Dollhouse Paul's Case Analysis

Socio-Economic Slavery “Dollhouse” and “Paul’s Case” explore the desire of people to stay in their “rightful” place on the socioeconomic ladder. Both pieces of literature show what people will hide from the world to maintain a perfect front for the world to view upon and admire. Yet, there’s always that underlying conflict underneath that perfect smile. Both this song and story broach a seclusive topic: the two faces to a person. Both “Dollhouse” and “Paul’s Case” use contrasting examples of the two sides of reality; one that is acceptable to others and the other a side that society doesn’t approve of. Through the use of the faces of stark reality, the stories show how repressed some people’s desires are repressed by the system.
“Dollhouse” …show more content…
This face of the family is elaborated on with events that go on that are unsavory to the public, such as “Dad’s with a slut, and your son is smoking cannabis.”(Martinez) The dad is sexually repressed by his monogamous lifestyle, set by society, and so he grows tired of his wife and finds a prostitute, though he he hides the prostitute away from the public eye. He is afraid of what repercussions might come of his infidelity, so he makes sure that no one important will ever learn of it. The song also mentions the mom’s actions, for “when you turn your back she she pulls out a flask / and forgets his infidelity,”(Martinez) which can be inferred to be about the Dad with a prostitute. The mom is so depressed about her husband’s infidelity that she drinks the problem away, albeit away from the judging public view. The speaker herself is afraid to show “what goes down in the kitchen”(Martinez), yet again out of fear of repercussions. Specifically, the singer seems to do something, like cutting herself, that she can’t even show her family. Each of these family members clearly have …show more content…
They “put on [their] doll faces”(Martinez) to make sure that “everyone thinks that we’re perfect.” Because of all of these lines, the reason for all of these continued problems becomes apparent. The family is too ashamed of showing that they’re an embodiment of the bad part of society. They are supposed to be a perfect little family, hiding these nuances behind that “smile for the picture”(Martinez). The picture is what the public sees, what the family displays to the world. The fragile disguise is enough that they can retain their place in society. They are mortified at the thought of someone seeing what they do, pleading to the public“please don’t look through that curtain.” The unnamed girl can be interpreted as a metaphor to the public. The girl(public) is playing with the dolls, the family, and tormenting them with her judging eyes. The family promises to the public that the public can “play” with them. In the line “We’ll be a perfect family,” (Martinez) the family promises that they will conform to the socioeconomic system of society and be the perfect family. If their problems ever get out, shame from the public would send them tumbling down the social ladder. That’s why they have to “Put on their doll faces”(Martinez) for the