In The Poem "barbie Doll" By Marge Piercy, The Speaker Is Characterized

Hadiya FordeProf.ChoiEnglish 111 (315)Response paper 1 Barbie doll In the poem "Barbie Doll" by Marge Piercy, the speaker is characterized as a third-person observer narrating the tragic life of a young girl who is subjected to the maddening social constructions of gender. The poem begins by introducing a girl-child who is born into a society obsessed with the ideals of beauty and perfection. The poem provides hints about the speaker's personality through the empathetic and sympathetic tone. The speaker seems to understand the destructive impact of societal expectations and expresses anger towards the unfair treatment the girl receives. This is evident when the speaker describes how the girl is told to play with "dolls that did pee-pee" and miniature stoves, implying that the girl's worth is reduced to fulfilling domestic roles.As the girl grows older, the poem emphasizes society's obsession with physical beauty. The speaker describes the girl's "good natured" smile and "healthy appetite" being vanquished by society's unrealistic standards. The use of figurative language, such as comparing her nose and legs to "a droopy fish” and “sticks," further emphasizes the girl's transformation into an object of ridicule, unable to meet society's expectations. The speaker's point of view is