The Virgin Suicides

Why are the boys so interested in the Lisbon girls, even long after their deaths? What does their obsession illustrate about The Objectification of Women? Cite evidence from the text.

Based on all of the provided evidence, what conclusions can you form about what motivated the Lisbon girls to die by suicide? Were they making a statement? If they were, does it remain relevant today? If so, how?

How do the Lisbon sisters and their parents exemplify the theme of The Effects of Loss? How does the rest of the suburb react to these losses, and why? Cite evidence from the text.

Why does Mrs. Lisbon choose to isolate the girls, and how does this absolute confinement contribute to their misery as well as to the intrigue of their story? Cite evidence from the text.

What do the elm trees symbolize, and what effect does their slow removal have on the suburb? How does this symbolism relate to the Lisbon girls’ lives and to commentary on the degradation of the planet?

What is the significance of the novel’s referring to the deaths by suicide as “virgin”? Why was Cecilia holding a picture of the Virgin Mary upon her first attempt?

How do the novel’s writing style and the boys’ fascination come together to form a dreamlike examination of one of the most tragic aspects of human life? Cite evidence from the text.

Why is the story told from the perspective of a group of boys? Does this perspective provide insight about who the Lisbon girls really were? Why or why not?