Kelly's Identity In The Senator

In meeting The Senator, Kelly is ecstatic because she believes that his mistaken affection for her will be what she needs to fill the void of her lost identity. The Senator is noted as “a married man, and Kelly Kelleher had been lovers at the time of the accident; or even, before that day, acquaintances” (28). Being a married man, it shows that he has portrayed his love to another woman and has kids with her. This is important because it shows that he has something to go back to after this weekend, Kelly does not. This explains why she sees more in The Senator than he sees in her. He sees her as if she is the new attraction or entertainment for the weekend, which is what she acts as for him even though he acts as more for her. This is also

Due to the perceived intentions from The Senator “Kelly Kelleher had fallen in love with The Senator” (37). Kelly “falls in love” with the first man who fulfills her need for closure to her identity. In The Senator showing what she mistakes as love for her she feels beautiful, like she did with G--, which is unfortunate because he does not love her, he loves the idea of her. Oates as a writer is noted at writing about women who take “the most immediately available man of any appeal; she literally walks into his room and turns her life over to him” (62). In highlighting this important idea, it shows to the reader that its is a common noteworthy idea present in her writing and shows that the women in her writing have no identity without the presence of men. Oates also writes a piece on a similar idea called, “The Girl.” Another example where Kelly shows her complete reliance on The Senator is when “her heart should trip like a young girl’s, hearing her name on The Senator’s lips, for Kelly Kelleher was a mature young woman who’s had many lovers. Several lovers in any case”

Later on Kelly “regained healthy, normality. She was an all American girl you want to look your best and give your ALL” (53-52). In saying how regaining weight and normality is the new American girl it shows that Kelly is conforming to what the men in her society want so they will like her and show her affection. _____ also comments on Oates using the idea of making sure the women in her pieces conform to the desired woman of the time by “[paying] careful by grudging attention to the care of skin, hair, and figure, as they must to attract men” (64). Similar to paying meticulous attention to their physical appearance, some women like, Kelly, are lumped into how “there are a great many fat people in Oates’s fiction, fat often represents as a result of efforts to fill up the empty self” (64). This is important because Kelly is constantly questioning herself and if shes worth anything, so in her gaining weight to please the men around her, it is also because she does not believe she has much self worth and the weight gain substantiates for