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Heterosexuality In Lauren Heck's 'Repugnant Conclusion'

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Navigating through heterosexuality
By Lauren Heck
The “Repugnant Conclusion” by Elif Batuman is a short story that draws from two of Batuman’s novels, The Idiot and Either/or. The short story introduces the reader to a young woman in college named Selin, who is on a journey to navigate heterosexuality. Selin is often talking with or about her friends and their choices when it comes to dating, love, sex, and relationships. Selin is ultimately questioning the way to live her own life. She makes inferences about living an aesthetic life or an ethical life, wondering which path she wants to take. Throughout the entirety of the short story, the reader is involved in Selin’s journey to find her place in society. As the reader, I wonder if Selin fell …show more content…

Which is a story about a woman being tricked by a man for the man to get what he wants. The story is of a woman falling for the man’s charm, but he is toying with her. He proposed to her but then later convinced her that the proposal was stupid so she called off the engagement. Then he tricks her into having sex with him and then disappears. This story to me is another addition to the confusion festering inside of Selin. It creates the question of “What if you're the woman?” It's not just the man's story, the woman is a main character too, so what if you are her? Which is quite ironic given the end of the …show more content…

She makes comments about Svetlana’s, her best friend, choice of a boyfriend. Saying that Svetlana’s boyfriend was only able to hold a conversation about 3 topics and was surprised when she came to realize that her friend was aware of that and accepted it. From my understanding, it is almost as if Selin is asking why Svetlana would accept being with someone who isn't at the same level as her or even interested in the same topics. As the reader, it seems as though she is questioning Svetlana's self-respect. She then talks with her other friend Lakshmi about arranged marriage and is utterly confused about why her friend would choose that way of life. Why would a woman rather be arranged than have a choice in her partner? All of the conversations Selin is having with her friends to me is her way of finding validation in her actions. It is funny as the reader to listen to her questioning and her analysis of the stories

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