The struggle for rights and liberties is a tendency of society that has been occurring for centuries. Particularly, the women’s long for equality with men is one of the typical movements. They accentuate their mental abilities similar to males’ as well as resist the estimation of their beauty to the inner world. Although this topic has been reflected in many works, Marge Piercy highlights it in her poem “A Barbie Doll” in the realm of the girl’s education.

A beautiful doll with model-like body, pretty face and well-groomed hair is a dream of millions of girls around the world. They long for possessing it and imitate the behavior and manners prescribed to the doll. Additionally, the majority of them intends to look like a Barbie when they grow up forgetting about their nature and inner beauty. Thus, they neglect strong health and posture, intellect and dexterity – all the prerogatives they possess. On the contrary, they wish to be skinny dolls with long thin legs, which expresses nothing but the appearance estimated by society as beautiful.

Therefore, Piercy emphasizes in her poem that women change themselves, for they aim at correspondence to the social cannons of beauty. Looking like a Barbie doll is their “Consummation at last” (Piercy, 2003). Being painted with cosmetics and putting on seductive clothes to attract men’s attention is, as poet claims, “to every woman a happy ending.”

In conclusion, Piercy implements irony to show the paradox of society. Women struggle for their rights and equality and, at the same time, they use their beauty to attract males’ attention. Overall, the females neglect their nature and mental abilities to follow the norms prescribed by society.

“Dulce Et Decorum Est” by Wilfred Owen

“Dulce Et Decorum Est” is one of the best poems, which belongs to Wilfred Owen’s oeuvre. It depicts the fierce moments the poet has experienced during the World War I. The scenes from Owen’s work express suffer at the battlefield, where the soldiers felt being poisoned with the gas. Moreover, they had no proper equipment and training to struggle against the foe. Although the horror of the war is precisely depicted in the poem, Aristotle’s three rhetorical appeals are implemented to convince the readers of the senselessness of the phrase “Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori” (Owen).

Therefore, the logos refers to the reasoning and logic. The words used by poet reflect the meaning of his feelings. In fact, they are reasonable since he experienced them personally. However, Owen finds absurdity in fighting and dying for one’s country. Thus, the pathos of the poem reflects the poet’s emotions. Namely, horrifying pictures of the battlefield, where the outraged bodies of the miserable soldiers lie, are vividly exposed by the author. He depicts the exhausted people who lack sleep and food. Moreover, all of them suffer from wounds. Finally, the ethos implemented in Owen’s poem appeals to common sense. The vibrant episodes from the war claim the meaningless of the phrase “Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori” (Owen). No one’s life is worth of being devoting to protect others interests and independence.

Eventually, the poet logically constructs the poem “Dulce Et Decorum Est.” He represents indisputable evidence and endorsement of his claim. In addition, the author appeals to feelings and emotions experienced at war, which he might have encountered himself. For that reason, the words of the speaker are rather conceivable and plausible for the listeners. Finally, the last stanzas state the overall poet’s position. The persuasive elements used in the poem leave no biased opinion and prove credibility of the statements.

References

Owen, W. (n.d.). Dulce et decorum est. Poetry Foundation. Retrieved from https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems-and-poets/poems/detail/46560

Pierce, M. (2003). A Barbie doll. American Poems. Retrieved from http://www.americanpoems.com/poets/Marge-Piercy/7926