Saturday, January 24, 2009

Some other interesting similarities/differences lie in the environments and the people that effect each character. I've only read the first two chapters, but Esther's relationship with Doreen is similar to Rachel's relationship with Nick. Nick and Doreen both embody the qualities that the narrator is lacking and envies. In addition, by the end of Chapter 2 in the Bell Jar, it seems that Esther is heading towards the same change of heart about Doreen that Rachel has for Nick. Esther seems to envy Doreen because of her confidence and beauty, but notices her reduced to a sickly helpless person. In A Jest of God Rachel similarly comes to the realization of what Nick's intentions for her really are when she discovers Nick's true intentions for how their relationship will last. Rachel admires Nick for his will power to break from his family and his courage to move to the city, but then later Rachel realizes Nick's deceit towards her about he photograph and how he only uses her for his sexual appetites.

I also think it is worth noting the similarities between Betsy and Calla. Both characters vie for the friendship of the narrator, and both narrators reject the two characters. However, Betsy is different from Calla in that Esther realizes that her personality identifies more with Betsy than Doreen. Obviously this plot direction could not happen in the case of Rachel, Nick, and Calla. Rachel identifying herself with Calla goes against Laurence's basic characterization of Rachel.

Rachel and Calla are more different than they are similar. Calla is spiritually moved by people speaking in tongues and enjoys spending time at the tabernacle, while Rachel is frightened of the speaking in tongues and can barely stand being in the Tabernacle and fears being recognized by someone she knows. Also another important set of opposing traits that would keep Rachel from envying Calla is that Calla is homosexual and Rachel is heterosexual.

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