"The Corn Maiden: A Love Story" (2005) by Joyce Carol Oates tells the story of an 11-year-old blonde girl with a learning disability, Marissa Bantry, who is kidnapped and held captive by 13-year-old Jude Trahern and her friends. Eventually, Marissa is rescued, and Jude commits self-immolation. Other characters include Marissa's single mother, Leah, and Mikal Zallman, a part-time math teacher and computer consultant at the school Marrisa and Jude attend. Despite coming from a wealthy and prestigious family, Jude's parents divorced when she was young, and she now lives in a large mansion with her grandmother. Jude has grown up feeling neglected and is unable to tolerate the seemingly happy mother-daughter relationship between Leah and Marrisa. Additionally, Jude has a strong desire for approval and feels resentful when Zallman does not pay her the attention she seeks, leading her to frame him for Marissa's kidnapping. While Oates meticulously portrays the frustration and anger lurking within the hearts of adolescent girls in this novel, she seems to imply that they need the kind of unconditional love that Leah shows to Marissa. In this presentation, I will analyze the darkness in the minds of adolescent girls from a psychological perspective, exploring how Jude's self-destructive behavior emphasizes the novel's message about the essential role of genuine love from others in our lives.

Authors:
Miho Morii, Otsuma Women's University, Japan

About the Presenter(s)
Dr Miho Morii is a University Assistant Professor/Lecturer at Otsuma Women's University in Japan

See this presentation on the full schedule – Friday Schedule

Bookmark