Image Study

http://www.sungboutiquela.com/purple-satin-halter-evening-dress-p-635.html

Here is a picture of a purple satin dress. This dress resembles the dress that Marianne wore to her Valentine prom. She made it herself, and everyone complements her on it and the hard work that was put into it. Marianne was so proud of her work and was in love with her dress. She wore it with pride, and in a way it was a symbol of who she was. A very pristine, beautiful, comforting girl just like the dress. But, after only wearing it for only a few hours, everything turned and went down hill. Zach wanted to rip the beautiful dress off of Marianne, and ruin the work and effort she put into making it. A dress once cherished and loved by Marianne slowly became into a dress that she could not let her eyes see.



"That Sunday afternoon, upstairs in her bedroom, Marianne methodically emptied her garment bag of everything except the satin prom dress, her fingers moving numbly and blindly, yet efficiently. She then zipped the bag shut again and hung it in the farthest corner of her closet beneath the sharp slanting eaves. Always, you maintain you dignity" (Oates 65). After the dance, she no longer saw the dress by its utter beauty, but by its horrible memories, and the time when she lost her innocence. No longer will she be able to wear the dress again, partially due to the fact that its torn and has many blood stains on it and also because she can't continue to bring herself back to that awful night."Unless a giddy blur, a girl not herself and not anyone she knew. Coughing and chocking dribbling vomit hot as acid across her chin, in a torn dress of cream-colored purple satin and strawberry-colored chiffon, legs running! running! clumsy as snipping shears plied by a child" (page 74-75). After being torn by Zach when he raped her, she tried running away from him, which caused the dress to tare even more. The beautiful elegant dress is now nothing but memories that Marianne doesn't want to remember.







Here is a picture of what I personally think Molly O looks like. Molly O is Marianne's horse that she got as a gift when she was a little girl. When Marianne comes home from the dance the next day, she doesn't want to talk to anyone. She tries to go though the day without letting her mother see her, and when Patrick comes to pick her up, she barley says one word to him. When Corinne, Marianne's mother asks her to help with supper, just as she usually does, she excuses herself and tells her mother that she is going out to the barn to see Molly O. Marianne has not been out to see her in a while, nor ride her in a while because of all the work she has had to do for school and the extra practice time she has to put in for the cheerleading team. She apologizes to Molly O and gives her a treat. Marianne used to ride Molly O all the time as a little child. Marianne wants to be able to feel as though she still has her innocence of a little girl, and hopes that by going out to the barn, she will see that everything is just that way she left it. Unfortunately, when walking into the barn she realizes that nothings the same, including her.

http://www.smokymountainparkarabians.com/tremepartyz.com/




http://www.youthnoise.com/site/images/fitc/dv2017013.gif

Above is a picture of a girl who has just been raped and only wants to be alone. She has been taking advantage of and feels likes she is the dirtiest person alive. She has lost her innocence and her dignity, and does not know who to turn to. Marianne feels so violated by Zach, and can't bring herself to think about that horrific night.
"You know you want to, Marianne- why's you come with me if you don't? I'm not gonna hurt you for Christ's sake. Come on! Nobody plays games with me" (Oates 68). Zach is yelling at Marianne to do what he says, and she has no idea what else to do but go through with what he wants. She is at this time a bit intoxicated, but she is also in complete shock.






http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/10099808/Riser

The picture above is the Bouguereau's L'Innocence: Both young children and lamb are symbols of innocence. The loss of innocence is a big theme in this book, and it continue throughout, and Marianne is forced out of her comfort zone and into the adult world. She can no longer be the baby, and her mother can no longer take control of Marianne and her actions, as well as baby her and keep her safe. The background of this picture is very dark, and mysterious, and the path of life will lead Marianne on some winding journeys, but soon she will hit the light, and everything will clear up for her.

"O Jesus have pity, Jesus let me be alright.
Always, you maintain your DIGNITY. You're a Mulvaney, you will be judged by different standards." (Oates 90).