Barbie Doll Poem Analysis

There is only a handful of things in life, that are up truly up for your interpretation – Poetry, happens to be one of them. However, it takes a uniquely discerned individual to decipher the obscurity that truly lies within a poem. Poetry, is the act of being able to paint an abstract picture, using words; each stanza constructs a colorless, yet articulate mural. Although the concept of poetry is very similar to that of literature, a poem isn’t so much about what is said, yet what has been left unsaid. In the poems “Barbie Doll”, “Sympathy” and “My Papa’s Waltz”, the authors use techniques such as theme, tone, and particular language to convey a very personalized, yet interpretive poem, to pick the minds of their readers.
The first poem, “Barbie Doll” by Marcie Piercy, tells the short-lived story of a young girl who had been ridiculed for her appearance. The theme of this poem is the compulsive need, we have as humans, to meet the standards set by society. The sarcastic tone, in this poem, allows the readers a taste of Piercy’s bitter feeling towards the socially defined “perfection” that is imposed on young women. In lines 5-6 the …show more content…
Yet, the theme of the poem is slavery and its effects on the imprisoned. The defining factor that helps one properly interpret this poem, is acknowledging that the author himself was an African-American man. This poem is an indirect representation of the life of a slave. Throughout the poem, Dunbar uses very colorful language, and a wishful tone that paints the imagination of the captive. The reiteration of the “I know why the caged bird…” at the start of each stanza, forces the reader to place themselves in the shoes of the author, himself. The “caged bird” is indeed the metaphorical slave and “singing” is the unheeded cry, yet unanimous prayer that is sent up by African American’s that are aching for freedom. The poem