Lust

Brittney Ottwell
Professor Topping
English 102: T&R-8:00 a.m.
7 September 2010
Lust
In the short story “Lust” by Susan Minot , I have concluded that the title of this short story in fact clarifies just that.   The story unlocks our minds to what lust means to a person, how it makes you feel, and how it can damage your heart and soul.   The story gives us vivid details of sexual desires, loveless relationships, promiscuity, personal freedoms, and experiences.   It shows us that we as humans are vulnerable to lust and how we view people of the opposite sex.   An individual can define lust as, “self-indulgent sexual desire or a strong physical attraction to other individuals” (Advanced English Dictionary).   The story is more than likely set in the late 1960's or early 1970's during the time parents sent away their daughters to all girl boarding schools in hopes to keep them pure and innocent.  
In fact, however, boarding schools during these times were more than likely unsupervised at peak   times and indeed allowed these young woman to gain experience with the opposite sex.   The narrator that Minot portrays to us is that of a mere fifteen year old woman sent away to a boarding school by her parents who have absolutely no idea what is going on with their daughter.   The young woman begins to have one sexual escapade after another, while taking the time to name off everyone of her suitors that has conquered her in some way or another.   However, the young woman is careful to remain anonymous for fear of probably being judged by her counterparts, but is quick to think that maybe she can still remain innocent by staying protected.   A part of the story that really through me for a loop is when the narrator is thinking of her mother.  
The narrator mentions that most girls took the pill as does she, but what she says next, really makes me think.   She says, “I kept the dial in my top drawer like my mother and thought of her each time I tipped out the yellow tablet in...