Barbie Doll

    The girl in Barbie Doll by Marge Piercy is being compared to a Barbie doll. The girl is not similar to a Barbie until she is lying in a casket.  She has learned that having the perfect body makes a person perfect.  When she is told that she has "a great big nose and fat legs" (6)  she begins to think that she is not pretty.  Society is what killed her and her want for people to see her as perfect started it.  It was not until she was dead that she looked like a Barbie doll done up in makeup and all.  It was "the magic of puberty" (5) that caused this, but really it was not magic at all.  Also, the "magic" did not help the girl in any way and caused more problems. Most girls want to fit a certain image that society creates.  In the end, however, trying to fit that image only makes the girl less happy and content with herself than she ever was to begin with.