ABSTRACT
In "The Amateur Rebel," writer Phyllis Duganne introduces her heroine with the following opening line: "Suzette Pendleton admitted that there was no excuse for her conduct: she must have been born a rebel." In "The Amateur Rebel," Duganne's protagonist dabbles in alternative roles for women. She initially despises the idea that a woman would give up any measure of independence for a man but eventually admits that, given the right man, she is equally willing to make the same kind of sacrifice. In the spirit of rebellion and of a new-age, both Suzette and Emily make demands from their men for independence and equality in their relationships. The story of Ethel Blaise's rebellion includes three of the four conflicts. She feels that self-sacrifice has been harmful, practiced as she had practiced it. She never considers work as an alternative but clearly feels that her husband does not do his part in the marriage.
