Society Exposed In Marge Piercy's Barbie Doll

In Marge Piercy’s poem “Barbie Doll,” the girl-child was perceived on the effect that society has expected in women. There stood a hazardous trend that raged in her society causing self-destruction. This comes to comparing the normal to unreal to satisfy on what society begs the girl child to be. This may occur within both genders. However, in the poem “Barbie Doll” it was more likely to occur within a girl gender. Women “theoretically” should be attractive and stay that way, according to the stereotype showed in the poem “Barbie Doll”. This poem explains to the reader the dangers that exist in the society of forcing people, especially women into restrictive roles and ideals. The poet Marge Piercy uses simile, imagery, and symbol to develop the theme of how society remains disapproving people who do not represent the ideal image. The use of simile in the poem distinctly explains the feedback of the "girl-child" to the constant assault of opposing orders and intentions. Pierce quoted “her good nature wore out like a fan belt” (Pierce). The girl’s tolerance to satisfy the world has eventually expired. The quote is explained as if the “girl-child” was a car, without a fan belt, the car gets over-heated and breaks down. Eventually the girl broke down with all demands society brought to her.

The literary devices such as simile gives us a comparison of how the girl feels ambushed by society’s demands to change into their definition of beauty. Imagery is used in the poem with very strong words and sentences that are very descriptive to convey the meaning of how the girl-child is manipulated into the girl she is now. Symbolism is used throughout the poem, symbolizing the whole meaning of the poem “Barbie Doll”. These literary devices help distinguish views on how the poem represents societies needs for women to be