Then the girls had led her here, blindfolded still, through

Question

the corridors of Betsy Johnson's house and shut her in
the cellar. It would be an hour before they came to get
her, but then Rat Court would be all over and she would
say what she had to say and go home.
For tonight was the grand finale, the trial by fire. There
really was no doubt now that she would get in. She could
not think of anyone who had ever been invited into the
high school sorority and failed to get through initiation
time. But even so, her case would be quite different. She
would see to that. She could not exactly say what had
decided her revolt, but it definitely had something to do
with Tracy and something to do with the heather birds.
—"Initiation,"
Sylvia Plath
Read this passage. In your own words, explain how the
central conflict leads Millicent to change. One small paragraph

Answer 1

In this passage from Sylvia Plath's "Initiation," the central conflict revolves around Millicent's internal struggle as she grapples with the pressures of conformity and her desire for authenticity. Led blindfolded into Betsy Johnson's house, Millicent finds herself in a situation that symbolizes her impending initiation into a high school sorority, a rite of passage that many have successfully navigated before. However, her thoughts about Tracy and the heather birds ignite a sense of rebellion within her. This conflict pushes Millicent to question the values of the sorority and reflects her growing awareness of the superficiality that often accompanies such social rites. Ultimately, this moment of introspection signals a transformation in Millicent, compelling her to assert her individuality and rethink her commitment to fitting into the expected mold.