Student Question
Is Bertha Young's attraction to Pearl Fulton partially or purely sexual?
Quick answer:
Bertha Young's attraction to Pearl Fulton in "Bliss" is partially sexual, but not purely so. While there is evidence of a sexual component—highlighted by Bertha's perception of a shared, intimate understanding with Pearl—there is also a deeper connection. This attraction includes a sense of ownership and adventure, where Bertha views Pearl as a special "find," mixing sexual desire with power and perspective.
I would say, though, that the attraction is sexual, but not necessarily only sexual. I'd go with your second suggestion: that it is partially sexual.
The evidence for a sexual component you've clearly already seen. Look at
lines like this: " Miss Fulton did not look at her; but then she seldom did
look at people directly. Her heavy eyelids lay upon her eyes and the strange
half-smile came and went upon her lips as though she lived by listening rather
than seeing. But Bertha knew, suddenly, as if the longest, most intimate look
had passed between them–as if they had said to each other: "You too?"–that
Pearl Fulton, stirring the beautiful red soup in the grey plate, was feeling
just what she was feeling."
That's not just sexual desire; that's connection. But I would say there is more
there too. There's a kind of avid ownership, a way she makes Pearl and her
other "finds" into something special for her, like adventures. This is sex
mixed with a particular kind of power and perspective.
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