Analysis of Marge Piercy´s Poem Barbie Doll - 537 Words

Over the course of many years, society has slowly placed an unrealistic expectation of appearance on women. Through television, magazines, billboards, and even toys, human minds have been influenced into thinking women should look a certain way. One of the commonly recognized symbols of the â€Å"perfect woman† is the Barbie Doll. For years girls have dreamed of being that perfect woman and in Marge Piercy’s â€Å"Barbie Doll†, she satirizes that dream by telling a story of a girl whose pursuit to become perfect ultimately leads to ruin. Her overall theme she’s striving to demonstrate is that â€Å" Girls are willing to kill themselves to live up to the unrealistic body images society pushes on them†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (Booth) The poem begins by a seemingly normal little girl who was â€Å"†¦ presented dolls that did pee-pee and miniature GE stoves and irons and wee lipsticks the color of cherry candy† (lines 2-4). By these gifts being presented to t he girl, she was unknowingly being forced into a way of life and a role in society. This poem was written during a time where women were confined to their homes, and in the poem, Marge Piercy leads us to imagine a girl with a stove getting prepared for her man-made calling in life. Continuing in the poem, there’s a shift in focus at line five when â€Å"†¦in the magic of puberty, a classmate [says]: You have a great big nose and fat legs.† At this point in the poem the adolescent begins to experience society starting to shove her into her place in society. PiercyShow MoreRelatedMarge Piercy Barbie Doll Analysis1860 Words   |  8 Pagestheir genuine glamor and disguises their true personality. Marge Piercy, in her poem â€Å"Barbie Doll†, uses the account of an unnamed female character who goes through her life worrying about what others think of her flaws to illustrate how one can waste their life away by worrying about other people’s opinion. The danger of falling into the standards of the â€Å"everyday woman† is interpreted in the Journal Of Sex Research, and a news article on 1970’s feminism, and a New York Times article which shows theRead MoreAnalysis of the Poem Barbie Doll Written by Marge Piercy (1973).1408 Words   |  6 PagesShort Composition Analysis of the poem ‘Barbie Doll written by Marge Piercy (1973). This girlchild was born as usual And presented dolls that did pee-pee And miniature GE stoves and irons And wee lipsticks the color of cherry candy. Then in the magic of puberty, a classmate said: You have a great big nose and fat legs. She was healthy, tested intelligent, Possessed strong arms and back, Abundant sexual drive and manual dexterity. She went to and fro apologizing. Everyone saw a fat nose on thick