48 pages 1 hour read

Jeffrey Eugenides

The Virgin Suicides

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1993

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Essay Topics

1.

Craft a critique of the novel’s handling of teen death by suicide. How does the novel approach the topic? Does it do so sensitively? Does the novel reflect modern standards of stigma reduction and open dialogue? Support your views with evidence from the text and other sources.

2.

Why are the boys so interested in the Lisbon girls, even long after their deaths? What does their obsession illustrate about The Objectification of Women? Cite evidence from the text.

3.

Based on all of the provided evidence, what conclusions can you form about what motivated the Lisbon girls to die by suicide? Were they making a statement? If they were, does it remain relevant today? If so, how?