The poem, Under Pressure by Gary Jones, illustrates pressures and stresses from various aspects of the speaker’s life. The poem states, “Under pressure from the left” (Jones, 1), and then, “Under pressure from the right” in stanza five. Similar to Esther, the poet has pressures in their his or her life that force them to be “...someone [they are] not” (6). Esther’s mother persuades her to continue on the path of writing, but also desires her to learn shorthand. Her mother sends her articles on chastity which forces her to be celibate and nags her constantly about her future. The poem also presents the idea that the speaker “Need[s] to sort [him]self out” (14), coinciding with Esther in the novel. When Jay Cee asks Esther what she wants to do