The Virgin Suicides

Question 1

When was The Virgin Suicides published

Answer 1

1993 by Jeffrey Eugenide

Question 2

‘Suburban gothic’ in The Virgin Suicides

Answer 2

Cecelia impaled by the white picket fence, symbol of suburbia, Levittowns

Question 3

Historical context of the Virgin Suicides

Answer 3

• In a decade of post war consumer society, rapid economic growth stimulated rapid social change (suburbia, Second Red Scare, teen culture)
• Suburbia glorified as a sanctuary - continual political conflict: WW2, Cold War, Korean War, Vietnam War

Question 4

Idolisation of domesticity as a sanctuary

Answer 4

• Story recounted by men with ‘thinning hair’ and ‘soft bellies’ from when they were young boys
• Glorified version of history, memory almost glorified, impact of this story has stayed with them as an obsession

Question 5

How does the continual voyeurism and sexualisation of the Lisbons illustrate their idealisation?

Answer 5

Lux becomes a symbol of this, whilst having sex on the roof:
• the narrators watch with binoculars
• described as a ‘carnal angel’ a creature of idealised femininity, a fantasy outside of his reach
• exists in the threshold between masculine and feminine worlds - these stream of male lovers, defying gender roles fascinates boys also

Question 6

Alienation and debilitating psychological effects of women in domestic roles (discussed by Freidan)

Answer 6

• Therese: ‘We just want to live. If anyone would let us.’
• Physically locked up in the house by their parents, mental health decays
• Her mother scared to let them out - reflects how these gender roles have been indoctrinated

Question 7

What does the narrator’s obsession with the Lisbon girls also entail?

Answer 7

• Obsessive watching acts as a metaphor for communist containment , yet a threat to domesticity

Question 8

Significance of Mary’s death

Answer 8

Head in gas oven - protesting against female role and entrapment in house