Love In Margie Piercy's 'Barbie Doll'

Tony Johnson

Ms. Marina Spears

Paper I on poetry

English 1102

09 February 2017

Love

In one of Tina Turner’s songs, she stated, “What’s love got to do, got to do with it?” If one loves or is in love, one would know that love is one of the most rewarding, important, and sometimes confusing emotions that human beings can experience. According to Tina, the act of caring for someone has a calming effect on a person’s body and mind. In Edna St. Vincent Millay’s poem [what lips my lips have kissed, and where, and why], for instance, the woman is seeking a sexual “love” partner. In Margie Piercy’s “Barbie Doll,” the girl is seeking “love” from her schoolmates, but “what’s love got to do with it.” The relationships of the woman and the girl have hindered

In the two poems, there are various reasons why both the girl and the woman remain confused up to the day. In [what lips...], she mentions “how she has forgotten, and what arms have lain under her head till morning” (Millay’s 2). The woman alleges that her early year has elapsed and she deeply regrets it. She appears to have a tough time discovering out why she is so disturbed about her personal lifestyle. Once again, she expresses concern about “unremembered devoid lads that not again will turn to her at midnight with a cry” (9). She wonders how many years it has been since her last caress and whether it was meaningful. In similar fashion, the girl in “Barbie Doll,” went out of her way trying to be normal and seeking kindness to earn friendship from her schoolmates. The girl was troubled during her childhood because she wanted to fit in with her classmates, so she tried everything she could to make acquaintances. Nevertheless, her schoolfellows disliked her and picked on her, calling her insulting names which led her to think about giving up on life: “Her good nature worn out like a fan belt”

She talked about her past relationship and as she became older how she lacked attention in her spirit. The woman [what lips...], reads “But the rain is full of ghosts tonight, that tap and sigh upon the glass and listen for reply” (Millay’s 4). She is straining to find somebody to pass time with her, because her lack of attention continues to bring her unhappiness. She says that over her lifespan, she has much experience dating others in a relationship, but she cannot remember how long ago it has been. However, not having any close relationship affected her when she was younger, and it continued as the years went by, and she is still looking for that extra care. On the other hand, Margie Piercy’s “Barbie Doll,” even when her life seems to be over, people still looked at her as not being complete or attractive. She mentions (Doesn’t she look pretty? Everyone said consummation at last 23). In other words, she said she can only be who she is, not what everyone wants her to be. Meanwhile, when she is displayed in the casket, the undertaker believes that he can make her complete now that the girl is at