“The value of a sex symbol lies in her youth, her curves, in the suggestion that a sexual encounter lurks around the next corner. » (Sharon Krum, The Guardian) The power struggle between the sexes in society is a phenomenon visible daily, especially in the media. The importance of female celebrities remaining in the spotlight because of their looks and sex appeal is a clear example of the imbalance between the sexes and their roles in society. Three Girls by Joyce Carol Oates is the story of a lesbian couple and their observation of the behavior of a disguised Marilyn Monroe who, to the surprise of the narrator and her companion, wants to be seen as nothing more than a ordinary person. As the story progresses, the author provides perspective on the gender roles women faced in 1956 New York and gives the reader insight into the thoughts and reservations of a lesbian couple at this time. era. Through both implicit and explicit expression, Oates implements feminist and Marxist ideas of power struggle in Three Girls to establish themes of imbalance and subordination of women in society. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essay Feminist ideas are used throughout this story in both explicit and implicit ways to help depict the roles of gender assigned to women, especially celebrities, in the 1950s. “This character was a garish blonde showgirl, a Hollywood sexpot of no interest to intellectuals.” (Page 79) The author explicitly includes the narrator's description of Marilyn Monroe to explain her status in society and to expand on Marilyn's importance in Hollywood. This depiction also establishes Marilyn Monroe as a foil for the main characters. Even though Marilyn Monroe was considered a massive sex symbol in the 1950s and was well known for her beauty and attractiveness to men, "no one ever gave her credit for who she was" (Nancy Friday, The Guardian ). Marilyn received attention for her appearance and attractive features rather than her actual achievements in her life and the struggles she endured to establish her career. These quotes implicitly highlight the idea that Marilyn, even as an established movie star, is seen as little more than sex appeal for men in a patriarchal society. This is significant because it allows the author to describe the gender imbalance in society and the fact that Marilyn, as a woman, was subject to the principles and decisions of men. Marxist ideas are used throughout this story implicitly and explicitly. to describe power imbalances between the sexes in society. The quote “We feared she would be recognized by a (male) customer or (male) employee” (page 80) explicitly establishes the influence that men in the bookstore have on the actions of the main characters. They fear what might happen if Marilyn's true identity is discovered, leading them to act cautiously to avoid this outcome, influencing their behavior to be subordinate to that of the men in the store. As Marilyn and the main characters approach the cashier, “Marilyn Monroe seemed for the first time to falter. She reached into her shoulder bag for a pair of dark glasses and managed to put them on.” (Page 82) These quotes highlight the fear women felt in the male-dominated bookstore. Implicitly, this situation acts as a. 2015.