The Bell Jar

The books listed above variously describe the film as portraying psychosis, mood disorder, and schizophreniform disorder. Might a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder fit Esther better?

Esther Greenwood: "Mad girl’s love song... I dreamed that you bewitched me... kissed me quite insane..." (0:00)

Her boyfriend Buddy Willard tells college student Esther, "... I have to finish med school." 
”... in terms of emotional involvement...” (0:06)

Esther tells her roommate Joan Gilling, "I had the wildest association..." (0:12)

Esther asks her mother, "... Doesn’t it sound dreamy?" (0:13)

Her mother tells Esther, "Oh, I only wish your father could have lived... so proud of you..." 
Esther: ”... Dad’s been dead for ten years.” 
”Why couldn’t I go to the funeral? Why couldn’t I go to the funeral?” 
”Daddy’s funeral.” 
Mrs. Greenwood: ”... He was so patient...” 
”... He was strict, but fair...” 
Esther: ”... Did you see him die?...” (0:14)

Joan tells the others, "... my mother is a drunk." 
Mrs. Greenwood: ”... Esther lost her father...” (0:21)

Joan tells Esther, referring to her father, "... he was on his good behavior... usually drunks out and disappears..." (0:23)

Esther asks Buddy, "... you said that anybody that felt like that had to be a true neurotic?... I’ll always be torn between two things... I’m neurotic as hell..." (0:26)

Fiction editor Jay Cee asks Esther, "... Have you read The President's Lady? I hear it’s a stunning movie." 
”... the Ladies Day mentality...” (0:33)

Her new roommate Doreen tells Esther, "... But that’s just a dream... my old pipe dream’s gonna go..." 
Esther: ”... pipe dream...” (0:36)

Jay Cee tells Esther, "... learn how to identify with..." 
”... how to identify with...” (0:50)

Esther tells Joan, "... just shoot myself..." 
”Driving off a cliff...” 
”We could drink ourselves to death. I’m drunk now.” (0:53)

Jay Cee tells Esther, "... anyone could dream of..." 
”You don’t dream about fame and fortune...?” (0:57)

Marco tells Esther, "... You are beautifully modest..." (1:06)

Marco tells Esther, "You are being obstinate..." 
Esther strikes Marco’s nose. (1:07)

Esther tells her mother, referring to Dr. Gordon, "... I’m finished with his medieval treatments." 
Mrs. Greenwood: ”That you are mentally disturbed...” (1:11)

Restrained by staff, Esther, with electrodes on her head, appears to undergo electroconvulsive therapy. (1:13)

Esther tells Mrs. Greenwood, "... The shock of my life..." (1:14)

Esther visits the grave of her father in a cemetery. (1:16)

Esther cuts her wrist with a razor blade, then takes a prescription bottle labeled “For sleep” from the medicine cabinet and appears to swallow a large quantity of pills. (1:19)

Esther: "I dreamed..." (1:23)

Esther: "... if you botch the job, you get thrown in the loony bin." (1:25)

Esther, rocking her torso, asks psychiatrist Dr. Nolan, "Did I flunk because I didn’t know the date and I don’t care who’s the president?" 
”... asking me what day it is...?” 
Nolan: ”Look, we’re going to try a different treatment tomorrow...” 
Esther: ”Shock treatment, right?...” (1:26)

Sign on door: "ELECTRO-THERAPY" (1:29)

Esther rocks her torso. (1:31)

Joan tells Esther, "Oh, crazy." 
”... suicide, I mean... memory like a flea... Am I making you nervous?” 
”Would you like to know how I tried to kill myself?” 
”... this ivy league loony bin?” (1:35)

Esther asks Nolan, referring to Joan, "... how’d she try to kill herself?..." (1:40)

Buddy tells Esther, "... last year of med school... these places depress the hell out of me..." 
”... stupid thing you did, taking those barbiturates. You could have killed yourself.” 
Esther: ”... I was not stupid for taking those barbiturates... I’m gonna be the arrow that kills me.” (1:41)

Esther answers Joan, "... how you tried to kill yourself." 
Joan: ”Let’s go it together.” 
”A suicide pact...” (1:45)

A man tells Esther, "... I’m Joan Gillings’ therapist, Dr. Richardson." (1:47)

Esther finds Joan, who has hanged herself. (1:48)

Esther: "... the world itself is the bad dream." (1:49)