“Perfect,” that is what people what to be. Nowadays, people are obsessing over the fact to be perfect. Both stories “The Falling Girl” and “They’re Not Your Husband” presents how society has standards that everyone should want to attain and how it is glorifying by the ways Marta and Doreen introduces with societal pressure, how they alter their self-image, and what they are left with from the culmination on striving for perfection.
First, both female characters face societal pressure and realize they are not perfect therefore need to change their appearance. Marta witnesses such powerful and beautiful people and want to be a part of their world:
Within it were powerful men, and women who were even more powerful, furs and violins, cars glossy …show more content…
Marta changes her image by wearing a chic dress which then gains the attention of the beautiful people. In “The Falling Girl” it says, “The sun had not yet completely set and it did its best to illuminate Marta's simple clothing. She wore a modest, inexpensive spring dress bought off the rack. Yet the lyrical light of the sunset exalted it somewhat, making it chic” (Buzzati 1). Marta is wearing a dress which shines in the light even though it is not expensive but does catch the attention of others. In addition to “The Falling Girl,” the story “They’re Not Your Husband” is showing how Doreen is making a large effort in trying to lose weight. Doreen excitingly says to her husband, “Two mornings later she called him into the bathroom. ‘Look,’ she said. He read the scale. He opened a drawer and took out the paper and read the scale while she continued to grin” (Carver 105). Doreen is trying her best to make Earl happy by losing weight and she is going to continue losing weight for societal standards. Marta and Doreen are changing to achieve their goals and is wanting the approval of others for their own …show more content…
In the pressure that comes with society, the characters are facing with how they are not perfect and have to show that they need to be, in which then leads them in changing their appearance to gain said appeal, but eventually leads them to unhappiness and have a loss in confidence. Societal standards are praiseworthy by everyone but no one can fully attain the
First, both female characters face societal pressure and realize they are not perfect therefore need to change their appearance. Marta witnesses such powerful and beautiful people and want to be a part of their world:
Within it were powerful men, and women who were even more powerful, furs and violins, cars glossy …show more content…
Marta changes her image by wearing a chic dress which then gains the attention of the beautiful people. In “The Falling Girl” it says, “The sun had not yet completely set and it did its best to illuminate Marta's simple clothing. She wore a modest, inexpensive spring dress bought off the rack. Yet the lyrical light of the sunset exalted it somewhat, making it chic” (Buzzati 1). Marta is wearing a dress which shines in the light even though it is not expensive but does catch the attention of others. In addition to “The Falling Girl,” the story “They’re Not Your Husband” is showing how Doreen is making a large effort in trying to lose weight. Doreen excitingly says to her husband, “Two mornings later she called him into the bathroom. ‘Look,’ she said. He read the scale. He opened a drawer and took out the paper and read the scale while she continued to grin” (Carver 105). Doreen is trying her best to make Earl happy by losing weight and she is going to continue losing weight for societal standards. Marta and Doreen are changing to achieve their goals and is wanting the approval of others for their own …show more content…
In the pressure that comes with society, the characters are facing with how they are not perfect and have to show that they need to be, in which then leads them in changing their appearance to gain said appeal, but eventually leads them to unhappiness and have a loss in confidence. Societal standards are praiseworthy by everyone but no one can fully attain the