Compare And Contrast Cinderella And The Applicant

Societies standard change every year. Women are constantly overwhelmed to attain a standard of beauty that is equivalent to perfection. Women are judged by their looks more than any other aspect. In the poems “Cinderella”, “Barbie Doll” and “The Applicant”, the authors illustrate that many people falsify their bodies in order to conform to society. In these poems the authors suggest that the standards of society are more constraining to women than men.
In the play “Cinderella” written by Anne Sexton, women are viewed as as unintelligent and single-minded in this poem. The the stepsisters’ decide to alter their body in order to get the prince. Sexton states “her big toe got in the way so she[Cinderella’s eldest step-sister] simply sliced it

off.”, this suggest that the eldest step-sister was willing to alter her body in order to marry a man she did not know. It was Cinderella’s turn to try on the shoe and it “fit like a love letter in an envelope.”, the prince married Cinderella only knowing each other for three days. Sexton compares the couple to “two dolls in a museum case” this implies that Cinderella followed society and got married. Their relationship was fake and was stagnant. The prince and Cinderella did not live happily ever after because they were both in a relationship that does not move. Sexton also compares the price and Cinderella to the “Bobbsey Twins”; the author suggest that they are merely living together like a brother and sister. There is not relationship or romance between them. The poem also stereotypes women because Cinderella’s job around the house was to preform house chores and fix the house to impress the prince. According to Cinderella’s step-mother, Cinderella was only useful for cleaning the house. Although it might seem that the author is promoting the standards of beauty, Sexton informs the audience to go against societies standards. Sexton explains that there are happy endings, but there are also great regrets in life by saying “that story”.
In the play “Barbie Doll” written by Marge Piercy, the main theme of the story is trying to fit into society. Piercy begins the poem with “[she was] presented [with] dolls that did pee-pee and miniature GE stoves and irons”; this portrays that female toys are associated with physical appearance, nurturing, and domestic skill, whereas boys’ toys are associated with violence, competition, and dangerous.