Introduction
Literature is characterized by a set of characters used by the author to convey their message. While each character has unique features, their levels of influence differ. The protagonist is the main actor in literature, who is often opposed by an antagonist. The protagonist makes crucial storyline decisions, largely influencing and moving the story along, and is frequently the individual who experiences the most critical challenges. If a story has multiple subplots or is made up of multiple storylines, each subplot would have its protagonist. Analyzing Marge Piercy’s “Barbie Doll” and Jamaica Kincaid’s “Girl”, the protagonists are shown to portray similar themes of growth, identity, and social expectations.
The Theme of Growth
The protagonists in both “Barbie Doll” and “Girl” are young females. Piercy describes the protagonist as a child born normal and presented with all the toys that accompanied her age. At a young age, she had not considered her looks until she grew into puberty and faced the first conflict in her life. Frisk (2019) records that “Barbie Doll” was awakened to the reality of her appearance when a colleague mentioned her great big nose and fat legs. She seems to have enjoyed her life until growth brought her to a new level where looks mattered and dictated her place in society. The theme of growth is also demonstrated through Kincaid’s “Girl,” whose protagonist is a young girl in her early adolescence who is presented as being in her adolescence. The mother’s advice, such as when she tells her how to dress appropriately before men, shows that the Girl has grown up (Rosenberg & Vitez, 2019). Growth has placed both protagonists in conflicting positions where they have to balance personal desires with societal expectations.
Identity and Social Expectations
All individuals are born with a deep desire to belong and identify with certain groups in society. In many cases, people fight to obtain a sense of identity, especially if their passions conflict with social expectations. The Girl and Barbie Doll are young girls who are faced with the challenge of finding their place among young people. In Piercy’s poem, Barbie Doll is advised to follow different routines such as diet and exercise to be physically attractive (Frisk, 2019). Clearly, the author shows that society expected women to be attractive, and therefore, they had to sacrifice everything to attain it.
In the end, Barbie Doll commits suicide as she fails to meet the expectations and deems it unworthy to live. The Girl in Kincaid’s story faces a similar conflict where she tries to understand her life amid numerous instructions and rules. Rosenberg and Vitez (2019) record that while the Girl’s mother is busy describing the rules to be followed, it dawns on her that she did not understand nor choose any of the things she is asked to obey. Nevertheless, she has to abide by the laws set because that is who society expects her to be. In both cases, the protagonists are victims of strict and unreasonable social requirements that deny them the opportunity to find their identities.
Conclusion
People find meaning in life by having a sense of identity and being appreciated by others. Piercy and Kincaid use young female characters to demonstrate the struggle people go through in a society that upholds strict and absurd expectations. As they grow into teenagers, the protagonists face the reality of their looks and are given suggestions on how to improve themselves. While Barbie Doll is advised on exercise and diet, the Girl is instructed on improving her appearance through dressing, smiling, and posture. Although none of the protagonists chose their paths, they have to do everything in their power to be acceptable.
References
Frisk, P. (2019). Barbie Doll. Radical Teacher, (113), 29-122.
Rosenberg, N., & Vitez, M. (2019). Jamaica Kincaid’s “Girl” and the challenge of growing up in medical training. JAMA, 322(13), 12-38.