In “Components of Gender” by Laura Franks she remarks that she has “refused to play gender games.” I take that to mean that she will no longer be complicit in following society’s ritualized behavior expectations. These are just a charade so that the majority is at ease and do not have to exert themselves in dealing with the true complexities and the reality of an extremely multilayered, intricate and complex expression of individuality and group expression. Because we are socialized to fit in for the “greater good”, most of us experience some level of apprehension when we contemplate swimming against the tide. Who among us have not tried to forge our own path at some time in our formative years; only to be rebuked, chastised, warned, given a talk to, to impress on our still fragile, immature minds that that mode of thinking and expression is to be frowned upon and avoided. Having once endured this trauma and undoubtedly being subject to it being reinforced, we tend to develop an unforgettable and palpable sense of foreboding whenever we especially first decide to cross this invisible but very defined line of acceptable behavior.

In chapter ten of “The Bell Jar” by Sylvia Plath, Esther who commonly questions her comfort with the expected roles of her gender in her time seems to experience this “fear” that Laura Franks mentioned. In Esther’s case, she is in her hometown of Boston and cavorting with a complete stranger (a sailor) in public. She as she is apt to do, uses an alias and in fact assumes a complete identity, “Elly Higginbottom the orphan …People would love me for my sweet and quiet nature” (Plath p148-9). Esther who is fearful of being seen in public by someone she knows, especially by Mrs. Willard. Thinking she recognizes Mrs. Willard approaching, she immediately gets into the expected and accepted gender role. First she pretends as though she has only now met the sailor, treating him as stranger as she asks for directions as well as instructing him not to touch her (Plath p150). Upon realizing she is mistaken she actually plays even more into her role, feigning anger and contempt to the point of tears. It in turn received the desired reciprocation from the sailor (Plath p150-1).

Esther definitely played her gender role to garner the reciprocated acts of sympathy from her stranger but when it suited her played against society’s expectations allowing the sailor to caress and hold her in public so she received the desired attention. Her outburst was to blunt any judgement that Mrs. Willard might have had, had she seen Esther’s “unbecoming” behavior in public. The sailor himself seems to have fallen hook, line and sinker for Esther’s performance before, during and after her mistaken encounter with Mrs. Willard. He too, faithful to his gender role, felt it necessary to be sympathetic to a distressed female as well as well as to be an enterprising male who encounters a willing female about town.