Idealism in Post Modernism: The Problem of Psychological Pressure in "Ellen West" Molly McAtee College

How often should one focus on societal norms? According to the works of Frank Bidart, people should try to avoid these norms and the standards that the public creates at all costs. Through pieces, like “Ellen West”, Bidart shows his distain for social expectations by creating a character who becomes the victim of them. By internalizing the beliefs of the world around her, the main character, Ellen, becomes dehumanized and loses all respect for herself. They even lead her into a couple of mental illnesses, such as anorexia, bulimia, and depression. She begins to believe that the only way to find happiness is to become the perfect representation of what society calls beautiful and decides to achieve this by transforming her body. However, with each pound that she loses, her self-worth decreases even more. Through this character and her struggles, Bidart’s “Ellen West” illustrates how idealism can lessen and destroy someone until they feel completely helpless and alone.

One way that idealism corrupts Ellen’s state of mind is by forcing her to not live the sexual life that she desires. Throughout the poem, Ellen is seen exhibiting behavior that appears to lean towards her being either a lesbian or bisexual. For instance, the reader...