Significance of The "Bedders"

The housekeeping staff at Monica's dorm in "Sentimental Education," whom the students refer to as "Bedders" (13) presumably because they make the beds, are a symbol of Monica's inability to understand and appreciate the experiences of other people when she was in college. She hoped the Bedders would discover Leon living in Darryl's room and inform the administration, but this did not occur because the Bedders were fond of Leon, whereas Monica herself always received "silence and contempt" (13) from these women. The narrator notes that Monica "always expected any nearby adults to be spontaneously applauding her efforts in all areas" (14), and she was disappointed that they were not impressed by her. Overall, Monica's experience at college was a challenge to her preconceived notions about herself, about race, and about class, and the entire Leon incident is a metaphor for that challenge.