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FEVER Megan Abbott (MENTALITY AND PHYSICALITY (“Kim Court… a moaning howl…
FEVER Megan Abbott
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CHARACTERS
Gabby
stands out for being seen as the cool and popular one, but loses her identity as she is often called "the girl" or "girl number two" because of the incident. Pg 295, 151. creates a kind of irony.
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The criminal. succumbs easily to peer pressure, as she was persuaded by Skye to poison Lise
Deenie
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tries to keep strong and keep the other girls on track.
• "Stop, she told herself, you’re not one of those hysterical girls" 78
tries to defy social expectations of women
lone detective, isolated.
LIse
very beautiful. described by her body rather than her personality. she was often objectified by the opposite sex. "• Lise… her new body… she was so pretty it sometimes hurt to look at her" 38
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SEXUALITY
Language. provocative. "Thrusting" 13. When Lise Faints she says:“it’s happening, it’s happening… uh uh uh” – 7 – sound of pain mirroring the sound of orgasm, linking the two sensations. The gaping faces… penetrating gaze 48 – women made a spectacle, sexual undertones
Male Sexuality. Dominant and made to feel superior. Applauded for their sexual conquests yet the girls are made to feel ashamed - "She’s unmarked" 259 – virgin, to be marked suggests corrupted and branded, like cattle, something irreversible.
"the novel is a picture of adolescent positivity : girls don't act they're acted upon" Wasserman's statement supports the male dominating tone of the book " Suburban predators prowling for teenage girls" 36 – portraying boys and men as animalistic and dangerous.
A sense of pridet that comes with male sexuality. "Eli… a pair of long-necked freshman girls in front of him kept wiggling in their seats, trying to catch his attention. The kid could not manage it better if he was trying. Tom thought". 67 – distinct change in attitude towards male and female sexuality, male is surrounded by pride whilst female is often condemned.
"Spreading your semen anywhere you want. That’s the poison. Your semen is poison" 95 – male dominating sexuality, metaphor for the patriarchy. A mother's disgust.
"She didn’t realise what they say [boys], looking back at her: a girl, lips slightly parted, her head tilted hungrily. What they say was I’m ready, lets go" 20 – boys are perceived as animalistic predators unable to control one’s urges. Makes them appear almost dangerous.
Female Sexuality: often ridiculed for their sexual activity by adults and their peers, they were made to feel ashamed and embarrassed. "Don’t tell anyone… they’ll think I’m a slut" 159 – social anxiety of personal image. Girls branded and categorised for their actions without a trial
"the frigid girl’s room" 64 – emphasis on frigid, everything and everyone is defined by sex, insinuates that girls are looked down on if they haven't had sex, but are also ridiculed if they have.
"Sean said again. “we just messed around. Shed never done anything. She kept laughing and covering her face” 236 – loss of innocence, covering her face suggests a defence mechanism, a way to pretend it wasn’t happening maybe, expression of guilt and embarrassment. How Lise “All of a sudden she got really nervous” 239 – her innocence on show here, a feeling of shame
discussing Cleopatra “virgin-turned-seductress-turned-sorceress of her own body” 50 – female cycyle, having command over one’s body in this male dominated society seems unnatural and impossible to the girls.
POLICE.
"some woman in a dark parka hovering over her like a crow" 182. Crow an omen of death. Some woman implies lack of status and importance, doesn't have a role and absent in the storyline
"you didn't say you were a cop" 214 didn't disclose their position when Deenie was being interviewed, disguised their intentions in a sly way. lack of faith in the Police from the reader's perspective. Immoral way of conduct.
"she didn't identify herself, Tom couldn't believe he hadn't asked" 185 Authoritarian role of the Police is demonstrating an ambiguity to the purpose of their investigation. Tom's confusion potentially signals a kind of corruption implying one should not blindly trust authority.