We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. By continuing we’ll assume you’re on board with our cookie policy

”Beauty” by Jane Martin

essay
The whole doc is available only for registered users
  • Pages: 4
  • Word count: 762
  • Category: Beauty

A limited time offer! Get a custom sample essay written according to your requirements urgent 3h delivery guaranteed

Order Now

“Beauty” by Jane Martin essay sample analyzes sins of modern public. Before readers, there is a fascinating plot about envy between two main heroines. According to the author’s idea, they represent absolute opposites. Carla is a good-looking successful model but without any signs of intellect. While Bethany works as an accountant, receives a high income, and at leisure publishes short stories. But she is disappointed with her appearance. Both protagonists have succeeded in their field, but, nevertheless, they continue to wish what they lack. Carla seeks to grow wiser, and Bethany intends to be prettier.

The litterateur skillfully introduces a genie into the narrative to symbolically show the value of Bethany’s aspirations, even if they are contrived. A girl prioritizes appearance, believing that it will benefit her. Carla tries to resist her friend because she knows about the shortcomings of fineness. But our personage cannot be changed. She is convinced that beauty is worth a deal with the devil.

The “Beauty” by Jane Martin example of essay clearly illustrates beliefs of most people on the planet. Usually, we see only a black patch in our own lives, noticing the success of other individuals. In addition, women often overestimate the role of appearance, forgetting about inner beauty. Carla feels a sense of envy of her friend’s mind. She frequently overcomes irritability, because men perceive her as an object, but not a person. She is denied a long relationship, being just a pretty and elegant doll. If you look at the personage of Bethany, involuntarily there is bewilderment about her discontent. She has everything to be happy, but she stubbornly ignores the gifts of fate.

Thus, the play “Beauty” reveals at the same time the strength and stupidity of groundless envy. We are talking about a human curse, consisting in the constant striving to reach the unattainable things. Jane Martin masterfully embodies own lesson of humanism, mixing in her work irony, subtle humor, and a little imagination.

Beauty , written by contemporary playwright, Jane Martin is a one act play about envy. It is human nature to desire what one does not have. It is also common for people to think that the grass is greener on the other side without realizing that what they desire may possess certain disadvantages. This play showcases envy and personal discontent in which the two main characters want what the other has. Carla is envious of Bethany’s intelligence and Bethany is envious of Carla’s beauty. Both women long for each other’s characteristics and strengths, all the while, not recognizing the other person’s disadvantages and shortcomings of the very aspect they desire. In her play, Martin successfully draws great attention to the human folly of being envious by combining fantasy, irony and humor.

The use of fantasy is evident as Bethany explains to Carla that she found a “Lamp” on the beach and exclaims “there is a genie in this thingamajig” (1036). She goes on to explain that the genie offered her three wishes. Her first two wishes included $25,000 and for her uncle who was hit by two trucks to be healed, both in which were granted. The third wish is where Martin  introduces the conflict of envy. Bethany envies Carla’s beauty so badly that she wants to use her third and final wish to ask for beauty. To Carla’s dismay, Bethany proclaims her desire “I want to be like you” (1037). “I want to be beautiful…Beauty is the real deal.You are the center of any moment of your life. People stare. Men flock. I’ve seen you get discounts on makeup for no reason. Parents treat beautiful children better. Studies show your income goes up. You can have sex anytime you want it. Men have to know me. That takes up to a year. I’m continually horny” (1038). The use of fantasy is expressed when Carla and Bethany are thrown on the floor by an explosion in which they exchange places. Each woman experiences what it’s like to be the other person. Carla announces “We both have the one thing, the one and only thing everybody wants (1039).

The irony in this play is that each character wants what they don’t have. When the genie grants that last wish and the women exchange places they realize that they have gained something they weren’t expecting… “different problems” as expressed by Carla (1039). We’ve all secretly wished to be someone else for a day to experience what we find appealing about someone we admire or envy without ever thinking that the person has their own set of problems and personal discontentment.

Related Topics

We can write a custom essay

According to Your Specific Requirements

Order an essay
icon
300+
Materials Daily
icon
100,000+ Subjects
2000+ Topics
icon
Free Plagiarism
Checker
icon
All Materials
are Cataloged Well

Sorry, but copying text is forbidden on this website. If you need this or any other sample, we can send it to you via email.

By clicking "SEND", you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy. We'll occasionally send you account related and promo emails.
Sorry, but only registered users have full access

How about getting this access
immediately?

Your Answer Is Very Helpful For Us
Thank You A Lot!

logo

Emma Taylor

online

Hi there!
Would you like to get such a paper?
How about getting a customized one?

Can't find What you were Looking for?

Get access to our huge, continuously updated knowledge base

The next update will be in:
14 : 59 : 59