The Bell Jar

In Chapters 19 and 20 of The Bell Jar, Esther decides to leave the asylum and meets a man named Irwin. She decides to sleep with him, and believes that losing her virginity will be a pleasant experience. However, she instead begins experience pain and bleeding. Irwin drives her to Joan’s apartment, and Joan takes Esther to the ER. The next day, she finds out that Joan has hanged herself. Esther is comforted by her parents, who pledge to forget about Esther being institutionalized, and move on. Still, questions remain as to who would marry Esther now that she has been in an asylum. The story ends when she enters her interview to be released.