"Barbie Doll"
- Marge Piercy
Marge Piercy in his poem
“Barbie Doll” talks about our society how people criticize others especially
women. People tend to criticize others by their body appearance which no one
has control of. /“This girl child was born as usual; and presented dolls that did pee-pee; and miniature GE stoves and irons; and wee lipstick the color of cherry
candy; Then in the magic of puberty, a
classmate said; you have a great big
nose and fat legs/. In these lines the author refers that when a girl is born
she is given typical toys and dolls and whatever goes along. As a girl grows up
she will be criticized by people in the society for her looks and body
appearance especially when she hits puberty, because this is the time she will
start to change and meet new people every day. It is unfair and not right to
criticize others. People should be caring for each others and make the society
better.
Marge also says In his
poem “Barbie Doll” /she was healthy, tested intelligent; possessed strong arms and back; abundant sexual drive and manual
dexterity; She went to fro apologizing.; Everyone saw a fat nose and thick legs/. In these lines the writer talks about, even
though she was healthy and intelligent like everyone else, she was still
criticized but she still stood strong. People should be judged by what they
think and do not how they look like. /She was advised to play coy; exhorted to come on hearty, exercise, diet,
smile and wheedle/. Despite everything she was the one told to ignore what
others say and take care of her body and carry on.
Chris Semansky comments
on Marge’s poem “Barbie Doll” ‘is a mythic rendering of the destructive ways in
which women have been socialized into thinking of their bodies and behavior in
relation to a particular ideal’. Because of the criticism towards women in the
society, they are forced to think of their bodies in particular ways only. They
have to control their body and looks. /Her good nature wore out; like a fan belt; So she cut off her nose and her legs; and offered them up/. In these lines the
author points out that such cruel treatment and criticism from the society
towards women leads to tragedy as they commit suicide like the girl in the
poem. So negative approach in the society is always bad for us. People should
come out of such mindset and start caring for others and make world a better
place for everybody and live happily.
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