Not So Pure and Simple

While she is a major character, Kiera is a symbol of Del’s ideal girl. He sees her as a pure, gorgeous, likable, kind, sassy, outgoing, and sexy young woman who would be the ideal girlfriend. Del’s fantasy, though, has little to do with who she really is. Though he learns later to respect her as a person with her own personality, needs, wants, and flaws, he first misjudges her by assuming she fits his ideal of the perfect girl. Because he thinks she’s caring, sweet, and virginal, Del is distraught later to learn Kiera is quieter, more selfish, and more sexually experienced than he believed. Though the younger pledgers admire her strong will and studiousness and believe she’s a natural leader, Kiera is secretly hard on herself and feels guilty for past mistakes. She is also devoutly religious and flags passages in her Bible; Del lacks such religious faith. When Del gets to know the real person behind the shallow fantasy, he learns they don’t have much in common or connect as he expected.

Kiera further dismantles Del’s fantasy when she confronts him about not being a virgin. She is leery and hostile toward him when he judges her or keeps pushing for a romance.