The Mirror Stage as the formative of the function of the 'I'

A Lacanian Reading of Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar and Kate Chopin’s “A Pair of Silk Stockings”

Abstract

The aim of this research paper is to examine the psychological struggles of the protagonists in Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar and Kate Chopin’s “A Pair of Silk Stockings” through Lacan’s theory of the Mirror Stage, showing how their sense of self is shaped and troubled by an illusory ideal “I” they attempt to embody. The protagonists in both works grapple with the conflict between their inner desires and the societal roles imposed upon them, leading to shattered identities. Esther Greenwood's role confusion and struggle to establish a complete self, and Mrs. Sommers’s experience reconnecting with an imagined, ideal self, are triggered by a pair of silk stockings. Through this comprehensive reading, I seek to illustrate how Lacanian theory sheds light on the various ways women internalize, resist, or manage societal expectations. To support my analysis, I have thoroughly studied relevant scholarly articles and reference materials beyond the primary texts, using the inductive approach of the qualitative method by applying Lacan’s Mirror Stage to explore the protagonists' distorted identities. I offer a fresh perspective on female psychological struggle and hope to encourage further research at the intersection of psychoanalysis and literature.