Comparing Character Analysis In 'Look At Me And Initiation'

The short story, “Initiation”, by Sylvia Plath , and the poem, “Look At Me” by Peg Hoddinott, are similar. In “Initiation”, a girl named Millicent is selected by a sorority and must undergo a week of ‘testing’. The week of hazing leads Millicent reflect on what truly matters. Although the social acceptance of being popular is intoxicating, she is inwardly unhappy at the thought of being fake. In the poem, “Look At Me”, a girl is begging society to see her true self, not her appearance on the outside. Overall, people just want to be liked for who they truly are, not who people want them to be. Millicent, the protagonist in “Initiation”, struggles with the conflict of wanting to be liked, and wanting to be her true self. At the beginning of the story, she thinks that all that matters is fitting in and being liked. This is proven by the story, “What girl would not want to be in her place now? Millicent thought, amused. What girl would not want to be one of the elect, no matter if it did mean five days on initiation before and after school, ending in the climax of Rat Court on Friday night when they made the new girls members. Even Tracy had been wistful when she heard the Millicent had been one of the five girls to receive an invitation.” This perfectly expresses Millicent’s thoughts on what makes you happy. She

The poem “Look at Me” reflects the universal theme displayed in Plath’s short story - It is a human need for love and acceptance and we strive for it. The speaker is begging society, to look at them for who they really are, no matter what they look like. “ Look at me. Please see me Not my clothes or stubby nails of homely face. Open your heart so you can see mine.” The speaker wants the reader to look past the outside, and see who they really are on the