As a result of her refusal to conform to societal standards, she is estranged from her peers and community. She says, “I’m antisocial, they say. I don’t mix” (29). Her role in society is limited by society’s inability to accept her. Mildred, however, is vastly different from Clarisse. She has no qualms whatsoever in fitting the mold that society has set for her. She is one of the members of the populace whose only purpose is to be perfectly content in order to allow total control by the elite who rule the society. Her contentedness and hedonism allows her to be easily controlled as long as she is given what she requires to be happy. When asked if her entertainment that she so dearly loves returns the same affection, Mildred asks, “Why would you ask a silly question like that” (77)? Her inability to truly feel love or even care about it is characterized by this exchange. Whether or not these two women fit into society also dictates whether they can truly
As a result of her refusal to conform to societal standards, she is estranged from her peers and community. She says, “I’m antisocial, they say. I don’t mix” (29). Her role in society is limited by society’s inability to accept her. Mildred, however, is vastly different from Clarisse. She has no qualms whatsoever in fitting the mold that society has set for her. She is one of the members of the populace whose only purpose is to be perfectly content in order to allow total control by the elite who rule the society. Her contentedness and hedonism allows her to be easily controlled as long as she is given what she requires to be happy. When asked if her entertainment that she so dearly loves returns the same affection, Mildred asks, “Why would you ask a silly question like that” (77)? Her inability to truly feel love or even care about it is characterized by this exchange. Whether or not these two women fit into society also dictates whether they can truly