Read this passage. In your own words, explain how the central conflict leads Millicent to change.

"Then the girls had led her here, blindfolded still, through the corridors of Betsy Johnson's house and shut her in the cellar. It would be an hour before they came to get her, but then Rat Court would be all over and she would say what she had to say and go home. For tonight was the grand finale, the trial by fire. There really was no doubt now that she would get in. She could not think of anyone who had ever been invited into the high school sorority and failed to get through initiation time. But even so, her case would be quite different. She would see to that. She could not exactly say what had decided her revolt, but it definitely had something to do with Tracy and something to do with the heather birds." —"Initiation," Sylvia Plath

Answer

The central conflict in the passage revolves around Millicent's internal struggle during her initiation into a high school sorority. At first, she feels certain that she will succeed and join the sorority, as most girls have in the past. However, as she is left in the cellar, blindfolded and alone, Millicent experiences a moment of doubt and conflict. Her thoughts begin to shift, particularly due to her reflections on Tracy and the heather birds, symbolizing her growing sense of rebellion and dissatisfaction with the pressure to conform. This conflict between her desire to belong and the realization that she doesn't agree with the group's actions pushes Millicent to change. The central conflict forces her to confront her own values and challenges her loyalty to the sorority, leading to her eventual decision to stand up for herself.

Explanation

The conflict is both external (the initiation process and the pressure to conform) and internal (Millicent’s own self-reflection and resistance to the group’s values). This tension leads to Millicent’s change from being a willing participant in the sorority's rituals to someone who questions her involvement, ultimately influencing her decision to rebel. The heather birds, in particular, seem to symbolize freedom or individuality, which sparks Millicent's desire for change.