“Barbie Doll” by Marge Piercy: A Critical Analysis

Introduction: “Barbie Doll” by Marge Piercy

“Barbie Doll” by Marge Piercy, first appeared in 1971 in her poetry collection To Be of Use, critiques the rigid and oppressive beauty standards imposed on women, illustrating how societal expectations force young girls to conform at the expense of their self-worth and individuality. The narrative follows a girl who, despite her intelligence and strength, is reduced to her physical appearance, ultimately leading to a tragic conclusion where she “cut off her nose and her legs and offered them up.” The poem’s stark imagery and biting irony make it a powerful feminist statement, emphasizing the consequences of unrealistic beauty ideals. It remains a widely studied text in literature classes because of its accessible language, sharp social commentary, and emotional impact. Lines like “Doesn’t she look pretty? everyone said. / Consummation at last. / To every woman a happy ending.” expose the grim reality behind the façade of perfection, making the poem a compelling critique of gender norms.

Text: “Barbie Doll” by Marge Piercy

This girlchild was born as usual
and presented dolls that did pee-pee
and miniature GE stoves and irons
and wee lipsticks the color of cherry candy.
Then in the magic of puberty, a classmate said:
You have a great big nose and fat legs.

She was healthy, tested intelligent,
possessed strong arms and back,
abundant sexual drive and manual dexterity.
She went to and fro apologizing.
Everyone saw a fat nose on thick legs.

She was advised to play coy,
exhorted to come on hearty,
exercise, diet, smile and wheedle.
Her good nature wore out
like a fan belt.
So she cut off her nose and her legs
and offered them up.

In the casket displayed on satin she lay
with the undertaker’s cosmetics painted on,
a turned-up putty nose,
dressed in a pink and white nightie.
Doesn’t she look pretty? everyone said.
Consummation at last.
To every woman a happy ending.

Annotations: “Barbie Doll” by Marge Piercy

Line from the Poem	Annotation
This girlchild was born as usual	The poem starts by describing a normal girl being born, suggesting she is like any other child.
and presented dolls that did pee-pee	From a young age, she is given traditional toys like dolls that mimic real babies, reinforcing expected gender roles.
and miniature GE stoves and irons	She is also given toy stoves and irons, implying that she is being prepared for a future as a homemaker.
and wee lipsticks the color of cherry candy.	She is introduced to makeup early, teaching her that appearance is important for girls.
Then in the magic of puberty, a classmate said:	As she grows older and enters puberty, she begins to face social scrutiny.
You have a great big nose and fat legs.	A classmate criticizes her looks, showing how society pressures girls to fit beauty standards.
She was healthy, tested intelligent,	The girl is actually smart and physically strong, which should be seen as positive traits.
possessed strong arms and back,	She is capable and has physical strength, but these qualities are not valued as much as appearance.
abundant sexual drive and manual dexterity.	She has normal desires and abilities, but these are overlooked because of her looks.
She went to and fro apologizing.	She constantly feels the need to apologize for not fitting beauty standards.
Everyone saw a fat nose on thick legs.	Instead of recognizing her strengths, people only focus on her physical “flaws.”
She was advised to play coy,	Society tells her to act shy and demure, as is expected of women.
exhorted to come on hearty,	She is also expected to be lively and engaging, creating conflicting expectations.
exercise, diet, smile and wheedle.	She is pressured to change herself through dieting and forced cheerfulness.
Her good nature wore out	Over time, the constant pressure and expectations exhaust her.
like a fan belt.	This simile compares her emotional exhaustion to a worn-out machine part, emphasizing how society depletes her.
So she cut off her nose and her legs	Metaphorically, she “removes” the parts of herself that society criticized—suggesting self-destruction or conformity.
and offered them up.	She sacrifices her true self to meet beauty standards.
In the casket displayed on satin she lay	She is now in a coffin, symbolizing her complete submission to societal expectations, possibly even death.
with the undertaker’s cosmetics painted on,	Even in death, she is made to look “pretty” by artificial means.
a turned-up putty nose,	Her nose is artificially changed to fit beauty standards, but it is too late.
dressed in a pink and white nightie.	She is dressed in traditionally feminine attire, reinforcing stereotypes.
Doesn’t she look pretty? everyone said.	Society now approves of her appearance, but only after she has lost herself.
Consummation at last.	The word “consummation” suggests that her “transformation” is finally complete, but at the cost of her life.
To every woman a happy ending.	The ending is ironic—this “happy ending” is actually a tragedy, critiquing the way society defines female success.

Literary And Poetic Devices: “Barbie Doll” by Marge Piercy

Literary/Poetic Device	Example from Poem	Explanation
Alliteration	“presented dolls that did pee-pee”	The repetition of the ‘p’ sound creates rhythm and emphasis.
Allusion	“miniature GE stoves and irons”	References to domestic appliances highlight traditional gender roles.
Ambiguity	“Consummation at last.”	The phrase can mean fulfillment or ironic finality in death.
Anaphora	“exercise, diet, smile and wheedle”	The repetition of actions at the beginning of a list emphasizes societal pressure.
Cacophony	“cut off her nose and her legs”	The harsh, jarring sounds reflect the brutality of societal expectations.
Caesura	“In the casket displayed on satin she lay”	The natural pause slows the line, emphasizing the girl’s tragic fate.
Connotation	“Doesn’t she look pretty?”	The word “pretty” implies artificial beauty rather than true well-being.
Contrast	“healthy, tested intelligent” vs. “Everyone saw a fat nose on thick legs.”	The girl’s real qualities are ignored in favor of superficial judgment.
Diction	“wee lipsticks the color of cherry candy”	The choice of “wee” and “candy” infantilizes the girl and reinforces beauty ideals.
Dramatic Irony	“Doesn’t she look pretty?”	The audience understands her suffering, while society only sees her final appearance.
Enjambment	“She was advised to play coy, / exhorted to come on hearty.”	The sentence flows across lines, mirroring continuous societal demands.
Euphemism	“undertaker’s cosmetics painted on”	A softer way of saying she was artificially beautified after death.
Hyperbole	“cut off her nose and her legs”	An extreme exaggeration to symbolize self-destruction for beauty.
Imagery	“dressed in a pink and white nightie”	Creates a visual contrast between innocence and the poem’s dark reality.
Irony	“To every woman a happy ending.”	The “happy ending” is death, highlighting the grim consequences of beauty standards.
Metaphor	“Her good nature wore out like a fan belt.”	Comparing emotional exhaustion to a machine part emphasizes societal wear.
Paradox	“Consummation at last.”	Suggests completion, but in the tragic form of death.
Personification	“Her good nature wore out.”	Treating her personality as a physical object that deteriorates.
Repetition	“Everyone saw a fat nose on thick legs.”	Repeating this phrase reinforces the harmful fixation on appearance.
Symbolism	Title: “Barbie Doll”	The title represents the unrealistic beauty standards imposed on women.

Themes: “Barbie Doll” by Marge Piercy

1. Unrealistic Beauty Standards and Societal Expectations: One of the central themes in “Barbie Doll” is the unrealistic beauty standards imposed on women by society. From birth, the girl is given toys that reinforce traditional gender roles: “presented dolls that did pee-pee / and miniature GE stoves and irons.” These gifts symbolize the early conditioning of girls to fulfill roles of caretakers and homemakers, while also emphasizing the importance of appearance. However, despite being “healthy, tested intelligent, possessed strong arms and back,” she is judged solely by her physical features. The moment a classmate comments, “You have a great big nose and fat legs,” her self-image begins to deteriorate. This harsh scrutiny reflects how society prioritizes beauty over intelligence, strength, or character, forcing women to conform to impossible ideals. Ultimately, the girl succumbs to the pressure, symbolized by her drastic transformation in the poem’s final lines, where she is laid in a casket with “a turned-up putty nose”—suggesting that only in death does she meet society’s expectations of beauty.

2. The Destructive Effects of Gender Roles: The poem highlights the rigid and oppressive gender roles that dictate how women should behave. From a young age, the girl is taught to be submissive, attractive, and accommodating. She is instructed to “play coy, / exhorted to come on hearty, / exercise, diet, smile and wheedle.” These conflicting demands reveal the impossible balance women must maintain—being both reserved and outgoing, obedient yet appealing. The pressure to conform wears her down, leading to the disturbing imagery: “Her good nature wore out / like a fan belt.” This metaphor suggests that she is treated like a machine, expected to function perfectly until she ultimately breaks under the pressure. The theme critiques how gender roles strip women of their individuality, forcing them to sacrifice their authenticity to meet societal expectations.

3. Self-Destruction and the Loss of Identity: Throughout “Barbie Doll,” the protagonist struggles with her self-worth, feeling inadequate despite her intelligence and abilities. Society reduces her identity to her physical appearance, overshadowing all other qualities. This rejection leads to self-destructive behavior, illustrated in the line: “So she cut off her nose and her legs / and offered them up.” While not literal, this extreme imagery signifies the emotional and psychological toll of trying to fit unrealistic standards. The girl is metaphorically forced to remove the parts of herself that are deemed unacceptable, erasing her identity in the process. The ultimate tragedy is that she is only recognized as “pretty” in death, reinforcing the idea that society’s approval comes at the cost of self-destruction. This theme serves as a powerful critique of the way external pressures can lead to severe consequences, including loss of self-esteem, depression, and even self-harm.

4. The Irony of Societal Approval and “Perfection”: Irony is deeply embedded in “Barbie Doll,” particularly in how society’s perception of the girl changes after her death. While alive, she is judged and pressured to conform, yet once she has succumbed to these pressures, she is praised: “Doesn’t she look pretty? everyone said. / Consummation at last.” The word “consummation” typically means fulfillment or completion, but in this context, it is darkly ironic—her death is framed as a “happy ending” because she has finally achieved the beauty society demanded of her. The final line, “To every woman a happy ending,” drips with sarcasm, exposing the cruel reality that women are only valued when they fit impossible ideals, even if it means losing themselves in the process. This theme critiques the societal obsession with appearance, revealing how approval is often granted only when it is too late.

Literary Theories and “Barbie Doll” by Marge Piercy

Literary Theory	Application to “Barbie Doll”	References from the Poem
Feminist Theory	This theory examines how literature reflects, reinforces, or challenges gender roles and the oppression of women. “Barbie Doll” critiques how society conditions women to prioritize beauty over intelligence and strength, ultimately leading to their self-destruction.	“She was advised to play coy, / exhorted to come on hearty, / exercise, diet, smile and wheedle.” This shows the conflicting expectations placed on women. The final irony, “Doesn’t she look pretty? everyone said.” critiques how women are only valued when they conform.
Marxist Theory	This theory explores class struggles and societal power structures. “Barbie Doll” can be read as a critique of capitalist consumer culture, which enforces beauty standards to drive profit through industries like cosmetics, fashion, and weight loss.	The girl is given traditional gendered toys: “presented dolls that did pee-pee / and miniature GE stoves and irons.” These items symbolize capitalist-imposed gender roles, where women are expected to conform to domesticity and external beauty.
Psychoanalytic Theory	This theory, based on Freudian and Jungian psychology, examines unconscious desires, identity formation, and self-perception. The girl in “Barbie Doll” experiences psychological conflict between her true self and society’s expectations, leading to self-destruction.	The poem describes the internalization of criticism: “She went to and fro apologizing. / Everyone saw a fat nose on thick legs.” The girl absorbs societal negativity, leading to her tragic downfall: “So she cut off her nose and her legs / and offered them up.”
New Historicism	This theory considers literature within its historical and cultural context. “Barbie Doll” reflects second-wave feminism in the 1970s, a time when women were challenging beauty standards and societal roles.	The final lines, “To every woman a happy ending,” use biting irony to critique how women’s worth was historically tied to their looks. The title “Barbie Doll” references the cultural ideal of femininity popularized by the Barbie toy, which was heavily scrutinized in feminist discourse.

Critical Questions about “Barbie Doll” by Marge Piercy

• How does “Barbie Doll” critique societal beauty standards, and what are the consequences for the poem’s protagonist?
• “Barbie Doll” directly critiques the unrealistic and damaging beauty standards imposed on women from a young age. The girl in the poem is born “as usual,” signifying that she starts as a normal child. However, from the beginning, she is given traditional gendered toys like “dolls that did pee-pee / and miniature GE stoves and irons,” reinforcing the expectation that she will grow up to be a caretaker and homemaker. Despite her intelligence and physical strength, society disregards these qualities in favor of her appearance. The turning point comes when a classmate tells her, “You have a great big nose and fat legs,” which marks the beginning of her internal struggle. She attempts to conform by dieting, exercising, and pleasing others, but ultimately, she “cut off her nose and her legs / and offered them up.” This extreme imagery symbolizes how societal pressure leads to self-destruction. The final lines, “Doesn’t she look pretty? everyone said,” expose the cruel irony that only in death does she meet beauty standards. The poem ultimately suggests that these standards not only harm women’s self-esteem but can also lead to their psychological or physical destruction.
• How does the poem use irony to highlight the contradictions in societal expectations of women?
• Irony is one of the most powerful literary devices in “Barbie Doll,” used to expose the hypocrisy of societal expectations for women. The most striking example is in the poem’s final lines: “Consummation at last. / To every woman a happy ending.” The word “consummation” usually refers to fulfillment or a successful conclusion, but here, it refers to the girl’s death, suggesting that she only achieves societal approval when she no longer exists. Similarly, the phrase “Doesn’t she look pretty?” is deeply ironic—while the girl struggled to meet beauty standards throughout her life, she is only praised once she has lost herself completely. Another layer of irony is in the way society’s demands are contradictory; she is expected to “play coy,” yet also “come on hearty,” reflecting the impossible balancing act imposed on women. This irony underscores the damaging effects of these expectations, demonstrating how women are set up to fail in a system that demands perfection but continuously shifts its requirements.
• What role does gender socialization play in shaping the girl’s fate in the poem?
• The poem explores how gender socialization—the process of learning societal norms related to one’s gender—contributes to the girl’s tragic fate. From birth, she is molded into a traditional female role by being given dolls, stoves, and lipsticks, which reinforce the idea that her value lies in domesticity and appearance. As she grows older, she receives conflicting messages about how she should behave: “She was advised to play coy, / exhorted to come on hearty, / exercise, diet, smile and wheedle.” These demands show that women are taught to prioritize external approval over their authentic selves. Rather than encouraging self-confidence, society pressures her into a cycle of self-doubt and self-sacrifice. This relentless conditioning ultimately leads her to extreme measures: “So she cut off her nose and her legs / and offered them up,” symbolizing how she erases her true identity to conform. The poem critiques the way gender roles shape women’s lives, showing how deeply ingrained beauty standards can be damaging from an early age.
• How does “Barbie Doll” challenge the notion of a “happy ending” for women?
• The poem subverts the traditional idea of a “happy ending” by presenting a conclusion that is both tragic and deeply ironic. In conventional narratives, women are often rewarded for their beauty and conformity with love, success, or admiration. However, in “Barbie Doll,” the protagonist’s reward comes only in death. The phrase “To every woman a happy ending.” is dripping with sarcasm, as the so-called happy ending is actually her destruction. Instead of living a fulfilled life, she is reduced to a lifeless body in a casket, with artificial beauty applied: “with the undertaker’s cosmetics painted on, / a turned-up putty nose.” This final transformation mocks the idea that meeting societal beauty standards leads to happiness. By portraying a distorted version of the traditional happy ending, Piercy critiques the way women are conditioned to believe that their worth is tied to their appearance, showing that the pursuit of unattainable perfection often results in loss rather than fulfillment.

Literary Works Similar to “Barbie Doll” by Marge Piercy

1. “Phenomenal Woman” by Maya Angelou – This poem contrasts with “Barbie Doll” by celebrating self-acceptance and rejecting societal beauty standards, empowering women to embrace their natural confidence.
2. “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou – Like “Barbie Doll”, this poem addresses the challenges women face due to societal oppression, but it offers a message of resilience rather than tragedy.
3. “The Applicant” by Sylvia Plath – This poem, like “Barbie Doll”, critiques the expectations placed on women, particularly in marriage and appearance, using sharp irony and dark humor.
4. “Homage to My Hips” by Lucille Clifton – Similar to “Barbie Doll”, this poem addresses body image, but instead of succumbing to beauty pressures, it embraces female strength and self-love.
5. “Cinderella” by Anne Sexton – This poem, like “Barbie Doll”, uses dark irony to expose the unrealistic and damaging expectations placed on women in society.

Representative Quotations of “Barbie Doll” by Marge Piercy

Quotation	Context in the Poem	Theoretical Perspective
“This girlchild was born as usual”	The poem begins with an ordinary girl, implying that her struggles are universal for women in society.	Feminist Theory – Highlights how societal pressures on women begin at birth.
“and presented dolls that did pee-pee / and miniature GE stoves and irons”	The girl is given gendered toys that condition her into traditional female roles.	Marxist Theory – Critiques consumer culture’s role in reinforcing gender norms.
“Then in the magic of puberty, a classmate said: / You have a great big nose and fat legs.”	The turning point where society begins to judge her based on physical appearance rather than her abilities.	Psychoanalytic Theory – Shows how external criticism affects self-image and identity.
“She was healthy, tested intelligent, / possessed strong arms and back”	The girl has valuable qualities, but they are ignored because society prioritizes appearance.	Feminist Theory – Criticizes how women’s worth is measured by looks rather than intellect or strength.
“She went to and fro apologizing.”	She internalizes society’s judgment, feeling inadequate for simply existing as she is.	Psychoanalytic Theory – Explores the psychological effects of constant self-doubt and insecurity.
“She was advised to play coy, / exhorted to come on hearty, / exercise, diet, smile and wheedle.”	Society imposes conflicting expectations, making it impossible for women to meet all demands.	Feminist Theory – Reveals how contradictory gender roles oppress women.
“Her good nature wore out / like a fan belt.”	She becomes exhausted from trying to meet society’s impossible standards.	Marxist Theory – Compares women to machines, showing how society depletes them.
“So she cut off her nose and her legs / and offered them up.”	The girl metaphorically removes the parts of herself that society deems unacceptable.	Psychoanalytic Theory – Illustrates self-destruction due to societal pressure.
“Doesn’t she look pretty? everyone said.”	After conforming (or dying), she finally meets society’s beauty standards.	New Historicism – Exposes how past and present beauty standards dictate female worth.
“To every woman a happy ending.”	The final ironic statement suggests that women only find societal acceptance in death.	Feminist Theory – Critiques the false idea of a “happy ending” tied to beauty and conformity.

Suggested Readings: “Barbie Doll” by Marge Piercy

1. Frisk, Philip. “Teaching Notes;” Barbie Doll,” Marge Piercy. In Circle on the Water.” Radical Teacher 39 (1991): 38.
2. Perrin, Robert. “‘Barbie Doll’ and ‘G. I. Joe’: Exploring Issues of Gender.” The English Journal, vol. 88, no. 3, 1999, pp. 83–85. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/821584. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.
3. Piercy, Marge. “Barbie-Doll.” Off Our Backs, vol. 1, no. 19, 1971, pp. 7–7. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/25771220. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.
4. Frisk, Philip. The Radical Teacher, no. 39, 1991, pp. 38–38. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/20709690. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.
5. Frisk, Philip. “‘Barbie Doll.'” The Radical Teacher, no. 113, 2019, pp. 29–30. JSTOR, https://www.jstor.org/stable/48694696. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.