Lethal by Joyce Carol Oates

Lethal by Joyce Carol Oates is a very powerful piece. I reread it a couple of times to get the full effect. When I first began reading it, I thought it is about the expression of love...boy was I wrong. This piece is a first person narrative from the point of view of a rapist (I think). The actions described are forced and violent. "It won't hurt if you don't scream but it will hurt if you keep straining away like that, if you keep exaggerating." The narrator here blames the victim for provoking him. I think this piece shows the blame of rape victims that we have all heard about. It is disturbing. And, it is very powerful because you are reading it from the point of view of a rapist, and it is almost like you are seeing the thought processes, and justifications used. Very powerful.