Initiation

Millicent Arnold is a dynamic protagonist whose internal conflict and character development drive the plot as she navigates questions of Societal Acceptance Versus Independence and Fitting in Versus Standing Out. The story revolves around Millicent’s thoughts and feelings as she experiences a week of hazing in preparation to join a sorority at her high school. Initially, Millicent is excited by the prospect of a week of “fanfare and merriment” culminating in her acceptance into an in-group of “elect” girls (241). She views herself as having previously been “plain” and “shy” and sees joining the sorority as an opportunity to remake herself—details that paint her as somewhat insecure. However, as time goes by, Millicent starts to question the initiation process and the advantages of belonging to such a group: Her best friend, Tracy, is deemed “too different” for an invitation, and the older girls in the sorority seem to delight in ordering around the initiates.

Nevertheless, Millicent successfully plays her role as an initiate and completes all the hazing activities. It’s only after she has an absurd conversation with a man on a bus that Millicent begins to see the hazing process for what it could be rather than what the sorority girls intend it to be: not shameful at all, but rather a chance to engage with fellow people.