Sylvia Plath Loss Of Virginity Analysis

(Awesome hook and nice introduction of author and title) Stereotypically, young girls during the time frame of the novel are told that boys will go to extreme lengths to be able to access a part of them they have been instructed to keep pure. However, when the young girl becomes older, such as Esther, she is hurt to learn that a guy can sleep with another woman and not suffer any consequences. (insert about Buddy being hypocrite quote) A woman is supposed to stay pure until marriage, yet a man is not held to the same standard. Female sexuality is a major theme because Esther is in constant turmoil with herself and her desires. She has expectations of who she should lose her virginity to; allowing herself to finally be inducted into a nonexistent …show more content…
However, while committing this act, she hemorrhages. Sylvia Plath made Esther build up this idea of retribution of finally getting back at Buddy, who signifies men in general, and, in the end, a bloody mess is the outcome. This event of bleeding could portray how Esther got rid of the impureness in her body either symbolically, physically, or both. Ironically, a girl is said to be pure until she has sex. However, blood is often a symbol of impurities and through finally losing her virginity, Esther could have been released of her impurities. Her continuation of bleeding represents the pent up emotions and uncertainty that held her back during the story. Her desire to have sex is apparent throughout the whole novel and never leaves the plot; this could be a way of showing how this was a factor in her mental breakdown. After the accident, Esther is seen to be visibly better. Caving into her sexual side was actually the key to freeing herself of a cause of her instability. She opened up about her emotions more and allowed someone to form an intimate relationship with her. Parallel this moment with how she not only needed to find someone worthy enough to seduce her, but Esther craved someone she also deemed worthy enough to listen to her. Female sexuality is something to be discreet about, like opening a female hygiene product in a public bathroom. Even though everyone knows a menstrual cycle is inevitable the