THE PLATH-AKUTAGAWA TRIPTYCH: THE BELL JAR & THE ROOM WITH NO WALLS

presents an imaginary dialogue set within a metaphysical “Museum of Impossible Conversations,” where authors Sylvia Plath and Ryūnosuke Akutagawa meet after their deaths. Through a series of scripted “panels,” the two writers compare their experiences with clinical depression and suicidal ideation, using their own literary metaphors of the “bell jar” and the “room with no walls.” The narrative explores the limitations of language in conveying internal suffering and the exhausting nature of performing normalcy for the benefit of society. They discuss the profound guilt associated with leaving their children behind while acknowledging the distorted logic that made their exits feel like a grim necessity. Ultimately, the piece serves as a philosophical meditation on the intersection of art, mental illness, and the search for mutual understanding in the face of despair. Read more