My Poem Written Like "Barbie Doll".
Marge Piercy was born on March 31, 1936. She was born in center city Detroit, Michigan. Piercy also attended the University of Michigan. Most of her novels address larger social problems. Her poems are known for being highly personal, very angry and extremely emotional.
This girl thought that life would be easy for her
and that everyone was going to be nice to her
and that no obstacles would ever come her way.
Well she believed this all the way until she got to high school.
She was a beautiful girl, pretty hair, amazing grades, good personality, and a very good heart. She was honest and loyal to all her peers. Everyone still only saw her flaws.
She was told that she would never be anything, her dreams of going to college would never happen. Everything she had ever hoped for was being washed away. She received a full ride scholarship but she still wasn't good enough. The girl started believing the words of those who doubted her.
There in the bed laid a beautiful girl with many big dreams, but she had no hope. The people who were supposed to support her, did nothing but bring her down. Is this how life is supposed to be? No, but that's what she started believing. She threw all her dreams away, and the bed is where she will stay.
Barbie Doll by Marge Piercy
Poem Analysis
Richardson, Tasia
Period 5B
February 13th, 2015
What does the title mean?
The name Barbie Doll, instantly makes readers think about what's considered normal for young girls. Most people are given the image of a perfect girl when they hear "barbie doll".
I believe that this poem was written off of a personal experience. Although Marge Piercy didn't exactly die the way the girl did in the poem, I believe she was dying to be herself on the inside. Using metaphors, and other poetic devices makes Piercy really connect to her readers. In her third stanza she says: "Her good nature wore out like a fan belt." Here we notice that her good nature was never good enough from the beginning of the poem. This could also be classified as imagery because the reader pictures a running engine when they read this. Without a working engine, the machine or car will not run properly, which basically leads to her death.
Who's Speaking?
The speaker of this poem sounds like the narrator of a fairytale. As the poem goes on, we see that this "fairytale" doesn't have a happily ever after. This poem ends with a young deformed girl in a casket. The dark humor given by the speaker makes the poem come off as natural, not so sing song.
Barbie Doll
The poem Barbie Doll was first published in 1971. This poem was written in the midst of a feminist movement in America that redefined the lives of many women.
Marge Piercy is writing about the way society traps young girls into thinking and looking a certain way. I believe that she wrote this message for young girls so they wouldn't fall victim to the typical image of young women. Marge Piercy is giving knowledge in a way that comes off more appealing to young girls. After all, younger girls would listen to a poem over a long boring speech.