Judgement And Prejudice In 'Uglies'

The key themes in the novel, ’Uglies’, is Judgement and Prejudice. Readers know this as it says “Anyone normal is Ugly” (cover), “The Pretties playing on the roof had all gone silent and were milling around…They pointed at her and Tally heard the word “ugly” on their lips.” (pg 21). In addition, the protagonist judges her own looks “Tally peered into her mirror all day nothing every flaw, every deformity. Her thin lips pursued with unhappiness…A trio of zits exploded across her forehead…Her watery, too small eyes glared back at her full of anger.” (pg 120). The protagonist lives in a society where beauty is important “Everyone’s programmed to agree on it” (pg 81).

Another key theme in the novel is Survival. Tally had to fight for survival against the specials otherwise she’ll end up dead like the Boss, “She remembered what the Specials had said to her more than once: We don't want to hurt you, but we will if we have to…“They caught him (Boss). They killed him.”” (pg 331-32). She had to avoid getting the operation including the lesion, “A few people still die each year, as with any surgery” (pg 263), “Most importantly, almost everyone all over the world had these lesions.” (pg 264).

Tally suffered from being alone, she was separated from her family and her friends. She metal suffered about how ugly she looked, “Tally peered into her mirror all day nothing every flaw, every deformity. Her thin lips pursued with unhappiness” (pg 81). She also suffered internally when she came to Smoke, telling lies and keeping them, “She went on, quietly horrified that another lie was coming through her head with such ease.” (pg 323), keeping her secret that she was a spy and that she gave away the location of Smoke to the