Poetry Analysis: Barbie Doll Poem

Society often saddles women with limiting and unrealistic expectations concerning beauty. This results in a sense of physical inadequacy and a low self-image for those women who do not uphold those features identified as aesthetically attractive. As the rime entitled Barbie Doll, by Marge Piercy shows through its word choice and tone, the results faecal matter often be devastating. There is a pointed and troubling contrast in the 2nd stanza, which describes a female subject of markedly admirable qualities.Indeed, it is roughly implied that these qualities ar somehow male in their nature. Her health, intelligence and strength are praised, as are her sex drive and physical abilities. We might therefrom deduce that the subject being describes is an inherently attractive figure with qualities suited for affection and mating. And yet, the resolution of this stanza is the juxtaposition which tells of a woman who is apologetic for those features diverging from female idealization.And were it simply a low self-esteem at the report of this apologetic nature, it might be deduced that the subject is also Piercys inclination of criticism. However, the 3rd stanza makes quite clear that the woman is at the mercy of that which is anticipate of her by others. Societys pressures, implied by the sarcastic tone in the first stanza concerning female targeted toys which influence early the ideal role and identity element of the woman, are reinforced in a to a greater extent damning contrive by the 3rd stanza, which notes that she was advised to craft herself according to how others expected her to be.Those strange and admirable qualities amounted to nothing as she was impressed upon to be thinner and more concurrent with the ideal of beauty. As Piercy tells, first she surrenders those qualities of her persona which made her considerable and, consequently, she surrenders her life. She becomes the Barbie Doll which invokes the standard image of beauty in our culture, as attractive, bendable and inanimate as a childs play thing.