Esther's Treatment
For most of the end of the novel, we see Esther receiving treatment in a mental institution. We can see her improvement, which is clearly a result of this treatment. Being in a hospital allows Esther an escape from society and its expectations. There are no expectations of good grades, internships, scholarships, or relationships. It allows an isolated environment where Esther is able to get the help she needs. The staff there have a clear recovery plan suited for her specifically, compared to the group environment at the public hospital. I think Esther’s story would have ended very differently if not for her access to a private, female mental health facility. The clearest difference we can see is with her experience with the electro-convulsive therapy. In her experience with Dr. Gordon, the traditional suburban doctor ideal, the therapy is painful. She compares it with the execution of the Rosenburgs – some sort of punishment. “I thought my bones ...