'Barbie Doll' by Marge Piercy
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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 legs.
She was advised to play coy,
exhorted to come on hearty,
exercise, diet, smile and wheedle.
Her good nature wore out
like a fan belt.
So she cut off her nose and her legs
and offered them up.
In the casket displayed on satin she lay
with the undertaker's cosmetics painted on,
a turned-up putty nose,
dressed in a pink and white nightie.
Doesn't she look pretty? everyone said.
Consummation at last.
To every woman a happy ending.
Anonymous submission.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Barbie Doll by Marge Piercy: A Feminist Interpretation
Have you ever read a poem that left you feeling empowered and angry at the same time? Well, that's exactly what Marge Piercy's "Barbie Doll" does. This poem, written in 1973, is an attack on the societal standards of beauty and how they affect women. In this literary criticism, we'll take a closer look at "Barbie Doll" and its deeper meaning.
About Marge Piercy
Marge Piercy is a prolific feminist writer who has written many novels and poems. She was born in 1936 in Detroit, Michigan, and grew up in a working-class family. Piercy was the first in her family to attend college and went on to earn a degree in English from the University of Michigan. Her writing often deals with issues of social justice, feminism, and the environment.
The Poem
Let's start by taking a look at the poem itself. "Barbie Doll" is a free-verse poem that consists of four stanzas. The poem tells the story of a young girl who is constantly criticized for her appearance. The girl is described as having a "big nose and fat legs" and is told that she "should have a pretty face." However, the girl is unable to conform to these standards and eventually commits suicide.
The Title
The title of the poem, "Barbie Doll," is a reference to the famous doll created by Mattel in 1959. The Barbie doll has been criticized for perpetuating unrealistic beauty standards and for promoting a narrow definition of femininity. In the context of the poem, the title is used ironically to highlight the damaging effects of these standards.
The First Stanza
The first stanza introduces the protagonist of the poem. The girl is described as having "a nose in need of surgery" and "fat legs." These descriptions immediately set up the societal expectations of beauty and the pressure that girls and women face to conform to them. The line "Everyone saw a fat nose on thick legs" is particularly powerful because it shows how the girl's appearance is reduced to a few negative characteristics.
The next line, "They were wrong," is a clear rejection of these standards. The use of the word "they" is interesting because it implies that the speaker is not part of the group that criticizes the girl's appearance. This could suggest that the speaker is a feminist who is challenging these standards.
The Second Stanza
The second stanza describes how the girl is told that she "should have a pretty face." This line is particularly insidious because it implies that the girl's worth is based solely on her appearance. The use of the word "should" also reinforces the idea that there is only one acceptable definition of beauty.
The line "She was advised to play coy, exhorted to come on hearty" is a reference to the societal expectations of femininity. Girls and women are often told to be passive and demure, and to use their sexuality to attract men. This reinforces the idea that women's worth is based on their appearance and their ability to please men.
The Third Stanza
The third stanza describes how the girl tries to conform to these standards. She loses weight, exercises, and smiles more. However, these efforts are not enough, and she is still criticized for her appearance. The line "Her good nature wore out like a fan belt" is a metaphor for the girl's exhaustion and frustration with trying to conform to these standards.
The use of the word "consummation" in the line "Consummation at last" is ironic because it implies that suicide is the ultimate goal of these societal expectations. The fact that the girl's death is described as a "happy ending" is also ironic because it highlights the absurdity of these standards.
The Fourth Stanza
The final stanza describes how the girl's body is transformed after her death. The line "She was laid out like a body / that is already built" is a reference to the idea that women's bodies are objects to be constructed and admired. The use of the word "laid out" also suggests that the girl's body is being prepared for display, like a Barbie doll.
The line "Doesn't she look pretty?" is a rhetorical question that highlights the absurdity of these standards. The fact that the girl's appearance is praised after her death reinforces the idea that women's worth is based solely on their appearance.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Barbie Doll" is a powerful critique of the societal standards of beauty and how they affect women. The poem uses irony, metaphor, and rhetorical questions to highlight the damaging effects of these standards. Marge Piercy's use of language is both evocative and precise, and her message is just as relevant today as it was in 1973. "Barbie Doll" is a call to action for feminists to challenge these standards and to celebrate the diversity of women's bodies and experiences.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Barbie Doll: A Poem That Challenges Society's Standards
Marge Piercy's poem "Barbie Doll" is a powerful critique of the societal expectations placed on women. The poem, written in 1973, is a commentary on the unrealistic beauty standards that women are expected to conform to. The poem tells the story of a young girl who is constantly criticized for her appearance and ultimately dies because she cannot meet society's expectations. Piercy's use of language and imagery is both poignant and thought-provoking, making "Barbie Doll" a timeless classic that continues to resonate with readers today.
The poem begins with the introduction of a young girl who is described as "a girlchild in the 1950s" (line 1). The use of the word "girlchild" is significant because it emphasizes the girl's youth and innocence. The poem then goes on to describe the girl's physical appearance, which is deemed unacceptable by society. The girl is criticized for having a "big nose and fat legs" (line 2) and is told that she needs to "exercise, diet, smile and wheedle" (line 3) in order to be accepted by others. The use of the word "wheedle" is particularly interesting because it suggests that the girl is expected to use her feminine wiles to get what she wants.
As the poem progresses, the girl is further criticized for her appearance. She is told that she has a "great big nose and fat legs" (line 6) and is compared to a "fat, noseless, hairy-legged" (line 7) doll. The use of the word "doll" is significant because it suggests that the girl is expected to be nothing more than an object of beauty. The fact that the doll is described as "fat, noseless, and hairy-legged" is also significant because it suggests that even the idealized version of a woman is unattainable.
The girl is then subjected to further criticism when she is told that she has "a great big mouth and big teeth" (line 9). The use of the word "mouth" is significant because it suggests that the girl is expected to be quiet and submissive. The fact that she is criticized for having "big teeth" is also significant because it suggests that even the smallest imperfection is unacceptable.
The poem then takes a dark turn when the girl is found dead in her room. The fact that she is described as "a really nice body" (line 16) is significant because it suggests that even in death, the girl is valued only for her physical appearance. The fact that the girl is described as having "putty" (line 17) on her nose and "dressed in a pink and white nightie" (line 18) is also significant because it suggests that even in death, the girl is expected to conform to societal expectations.
The final stanza of the poem is particularly powerful. The girl is described as having "cut off her nose and her legs" (line 19) in order to fit in. The fact that she is described as having "cut off" her body parts is significant because it suggests that she has been forced to mutilate herself in order to be accepted by others. The fact that the girl is described as having "dolls that did pee-pee" (line 21) is also significant because it suggests that even in death, the girl is still being compared to an idealized version of womanhood.
Overall, "Barbie Doll" is a powerful critique of the societal expectations placed on women. The poem highlights the unrealistic beauty standards that women are expected to conform to and the devastating consequences that can result from failing to meet those standards. Piercy's use of language and imagery is both poignant and thought-provoking, making "Barbie Doll" a timeless classic that continues to resonate with readers today.
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