Beauty by Jane Martin (Essay Sample)

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Beauty by Jane Martin
Many societies place a high value on beauty. Even in societies in past centuries, people used to decorate their bodies to improve their physical beauty. Women today are frequently informed of what is deemed attractive. Women of all sizes, shapes, and ages are targeted by thousands of advertising companies that sell this elusively attractive ideal. The play places a lot of emphasis on the question of who determines beauty. Sekayi (469) asserts that it is difficult to define physical appeal. However, beauty can be identified through observation or direct experience (Rhodes 201). Society and media have created unattainable beauty standards by using computer-enhanced and photoshopped models in their beauty campaigns which have caused women to feel inadequate (Britton 4).
In Martin’s beauty play, the main characters, Bethany and Carla, feel inadequate about their beauty. While Carla, who appears to be a self-styled and pretty model, is suffering from excessive attention, while Bethany is clever, accomplished, and an aggressive young woman (Martin). So, Carla is a beauty model, while Bethany writes and sells short stories. The conversation between both the two reveals that they are envious of each other due to they point out the differences between them and, in some ways, start to highlight their imperfections to demonstrate to each other that they each have weaknesses. This envy is due to the fact these women did not feel like they met the beauty standard expected by society. Carla receives excessive attention she does not want, while Bethany does not feel beautiful since she does not receive as much attention as her friend.
Society and the media have made women change their physical appearances. To resemble the photoshopped models and polished actresses seen on tv shows, films, and publications, women constantly try to alter the manner their looks are intended to be. Some women working for media firms are contributing to the devaluation of women without even being aware of it. A typical magazine cover has a woman who is either exceptionally gorgeous or pretty and has heavily applied cosmetics. Women who do not think they look good will “rely excessively on accessories as compensatory tactics” (Bloch and Richins 9). Bethany, in the play, says, “but everybody wants it. It is the widely known, unpleasant secret. It is really the tidal longing that permeates every room and street. It is the silent, unsaid whisper.” (Martin 1272).
Like Bethany, many young women base their perceptions of beauty on the remarks given by their peers. Additionally, they evaluate physical allure in light of other women’s appearances, particularly those of prominent women. For instance, Bethany still sees defects in her beauty even though her friend thinks she is gorgeous. Carla assures Bethany, “You are gorgeous,” but it does not seem sufficient (Martin 543). Carla believes Bethany possesses the personality and charm that Carla lacks (Martin 543). Most young women deceived by their friends’ beauty typically have one part of their existence—their appearance—to focus on.
Media and society make women feel that, for them to live a satisfying and happy life, they need to be beautiful. Bethany has a lovely and appealing appearance. She yet believes that attractiveness will turn her life extra fulfilling (Martin 543). Carla, in contrast, has witnessed what others deem to be lovely. She despises the stress brought on by these “excellent looks.” She warns Bethany, for example, that being gorgeous “is not a vacation” (Martin 543). She believes that attractive women are viewed as little more than objects just to be admired. This endless pursuit of being more attractive sometimes is not fulfilling to women. Despite the jealous remarks, none of them desires to remain the other when the magical genie grants their request to swap physical and personality characteristics (Martin 543).
In modern society, society views women who have enhanced their to be healthier, and they are likely to secure a job faster than those who are perceived as less attractive. According to Nash et al. (501), pictures of women using cosmetics were thought to appear more attractive and self-assured than the same women’s images without cosmetics. Women were given more earning capacity and were thought to hold more lucrative jobs when applying makeup than when they were shown without it. In line with findings from past studies, the report discovered that women who wore cosmetics scored themselves as having better self-confidence than women who did not (Britton 9). These findings suggest that women attach a lot of importan