"The Virgin" by Kerima Polotan Tuvera (Feminist Analysis)

            Mijares, the main character of the story entitled "The Virgin", as a a writer and as a a woman revealed her desires through her metaphors and symbols in her writing. Despite her being responsible daughter of her family, she also wished to be loved by others, especially she was always been dreaming to have a man in her life. The following lines show her desire to have a man:

"But neither love nor glory stood behind her, only the lurking, empty shadows, and nine years gone, nine years.

In the room of her unburied dead, she held up her hands to the light, noting the thick, durable fingers, thinking in a mixture of shame and bitterness and guilt that they had never touched a man."

            There was also one scenario in the story that shows her romantic feelings and reveals the emotions of Miss Mijares about the carpenter. There was also a symbolic revelation about her desire of being loved. Moreover, Tuvera shows the inner struggle of a woman in the story. Miss Mijares struggle to stick the societal expectations of a woman and to hide her own self was exposed and reiterated. In the society, women are the ones responsible of taking care of the family. This was the case of Miss Mijares, when she was only one left to take care of his sick and old mother. She did all the responsibility that she forgot her own life. Miss Mijares in the story can be characterized as an old maid. At an age of 34, she hasn't still touch a man. Her description in the story and her life really fits her as the old maid who is still untouched.

            The three stages of a women's history, feminine stage, feminist stage, and female that can be identifiable to Miss Mijares' life. The feminist stage can be described as a stage involving protest against the minority rights.

            The last paragraph proves that in her heart, she has gone through the protesting stage and now, she's able to express her own self, her own feelings, and her own desires. It shows that she is now capable of going beyond her social roles as she reveals that she is ready to surrender her virginity. Her virginity is indeed a symbol of dignity; however, it is part of a woman's purpose is to have a man who will be able to consume that long preserved virginity.

            The short story depicts the success of a woman in overcoming the men's stereotypical world. The main character was able to defy the dictates of the society and was able to establish her own self in the quest of being a woman.