"Barbie Doll" by Marge Piercy
"Barbie Doll" calls to attention the astronomical expectations placed on young girls in contemporary society to be absolutely perfect physically and intellectually. The first stanza describes a young girl observing the characteristics of a doll she has been given. The doll wears "lipsticks the color of cherry candy" and keeps house with "miniature GE stoves and irons," (Piercy 835). It most likely also appears physically perfect, as the last line of the first stanza contrasts with the doll by pointing out the girl's imperfections: a big nose and fat legs. However, as the second stanza explains, the girl is absolutely wonderful; she is "healthy", "intelligent", "strong", and sexually driven. Regardless, she cannot stop thinking that whenever anyone looked at her, they only "saw a fat nose on thick legs," (Piercy 835). Despite all of her fantastic qualities, she cannot get over the insult about her physical drawbacks. Accordingly, she believes she does not fit the mold of the ideal woman. Thus, the girl struggles with relationships while people advise her to "play coy" or "come on hearty," (Piercy 836). Eventually, the girl commits suicide, symbolized in the poem by the moment she "cut off her nose and her legs," (Piercy 836). The appalling part of the poem occurs when, at the girl's funeral, all in attendance call her beautiful because of the undertaker's make-up she has on. They cannot recognize how such superficial considerations led to her death. Thus, the poem concludes bitingly that such a superficial, appearance-focused society gives "to every woman a happy ending" such as the fate this young girl suffered (Piercy 836).
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