Sandra Cisneros Barbie-Q

The idea of the uncanny that is presented in Freud’s essay can be represented in many ways from the “doubling” of a character or even through “involuntary repetition” of something that happens in the story. The short story “Barbie-Q” by Sandra Cisneros includes this notion of the uncanny. Though both “doubling” of characters and “involuntary repetition” of an event could be found in this short story. In this particular story “involuntary repetition” of an event throughout the story is shown by the main character exploring all the different Barbies at the flea market, whereas the “doubling” of a character is shown by the way that the narrator envies everything that the Barbie’s have. The uncanny can be described in many ways depending on who

An example of theses descriptions is, “Yours is the one with mean eyes and a ponytail. Striped swimsuit, stilettos, sunglasses, and gold hoop earrings” (Cisneros 1). These features seem to be describing the generic Barbie and the accessories that you can get with her though it is never explained. The narrator then goes on to talk about the Barbie’s as if they are alive. She says, “Your Barbie is roommates with my Barbie, and my Barbie’s boyfriend comes over and your Barbie steals him, okay? Kiss kiss kiss” (Cisneros 1). It can leave a reader in an uncanny state because it has the readers wondering exactly how the Barbie’s are connected and how the narrator knows all these details. It seems as though they are real, but realistically she is most likely talking about how her sister and her keep their Barbie’s in the same house and act out scenarios with

There may not be two characters presented in the story, but the “doubling” can be seen through the envy that the narrator expresses towards the Barbies that she talks about. This can be seen when it says, “Mine, ‘solo in the Spotlight,’ evening elegance in black glitter strapless gown with a puffy skirt at the bottom like a mermaid tail, formal-length gloves, pink chiffon scarf, and mike included” (Cisneros 1). This shows one of the moments that the narrator describes what one particular Barbie wears and this one seems to be one of the more glamorous ones. When reading this is can be seen that the narrator is obsessed with the dolls, but at the same time wishes that they could be the doll and have that glamorous life. If the narrator could have the life of all these Barbies combined in one, life would be perfect. Freud states, “When we proceed to review the things, persons, impressions, events, and situations which are able to arouse in us a feeling of the uncanny in a particularly forcible and definite form, the first requirement is obviously to select a suitable example to start on” (Freud 421). By comparing what Freud states it can be seen that the readers and even the narrator reviews exactly how each of the Barbie’s look. In the end of the story readers find out that these dolls are not as perfect as the narrator makes them out to be, but actually