The Virgin Analysis

THE VIRGIN 1. Discuss the characteristics of the protagonist using feminism.

* Our main character is Miss Mijares, she is most likely in the age of 30s and she is still a virgin. She realized that love and marriage have eluded her because she is taking so much of her mother, but the mother died lately.

* Using the feminism approach in describing the characteristics of the protagonist in the story, Miss Mijares is an educated woman and also holding a high position in her job. Asides from having education and a high position, she is also a woman of authority in the company where she is working. In the story, she is acts bossily to the applicants whether man or woman. Just like what she said to the carpenter who is applying also where she works, “Since you’re not starving yet, you will not mind working in our woodcraft section...” These details about the main character support the feminist theory of being dominant of the woman in the society. She exposes a powerful female character yet she is actually under the control of the male culture around her.

* Firstly, her physical description of her is quite offensive in the point of view of a woman. She is described as “slight, almost bony, thin cheeks, small and angular, receding chin, lips that is almost sensual pout on such a small face” It makes it more offensive on her picture as “not exactly an ugly woman, but she was no beauty.” Secondly, is shown as a woman who clings to what the male society that considers an attractive woman such as having big breasts, hips, etc. She forged these qualities by putting a handkerchief on her flat chest and learning how to dress herself to achieve an illusion of hips and bosom. This proves that her consciousness is constructed by the society, a male-dominated one. Lastly, she is performs what the society expects from her as a woman and as a daughter. In the story, she took care of her mother and work hard every day of her life. Until she realizes that she is too late for a woman to make love and marriage at her age. Our protagonist had sacrificed herself just to meet her duties as a daughter to his mother and to meet the expectations of the society from her.

2. Discuss the major problem in the story.

* The main problem in the story started when Miss Mijares doesn’t experience love and marriage, because of that she lives with a dull life and spends her time only for work and herself when her mother died. She is also strict and harsh to many people especially to the applicants. I think that for Miss Mijares, her virginity is a mock rather than a treasure that she wanted it to be broken. Instead of being proud that she is a virgin, she finds it shameful to herself not only because of her age, but also the fact that no man has ever touched her. * I think, Miss Mijares’ definition of being a woman is to give up her virginity and to be able to bear a child as she thinks whenever she holds a baby in her arms.