Essay Questions

How does “A Work of Artifice” address societal expectations for young women and girls?

In this poem, the narrator follows a gardener who purposefully trims his bonsai tree to remain “domestic and weak.” The narrator purposefully deceives the bonsai tree and attempts to make it believe that the extent of its usefulness and purpose is to remain a piece of decorative beauty, which is to be admired and coveted by others. In this way, Piercy is drawing a parallel between the gardener’s treatment of the bonsai tree and society’s treatment of young girls. She suggests that girls and young women are raised to be submissive; society ingrains them with the notion that their purpose is to serve others with their beauty. Much like the bonsai tree, girls are groomed to believe that they serve no other purpose than to be beautiful for the enjoyment of others. In this way, the narrator uses the gardener/bonsai metaphor to exemplify the sexist and detrimental expectations that society has placed upon girls and young women, and the resulting lack of self-assurance.

Why did Piercy title her poem “Barbie Doll” as such?

Barbie is a brand-name that can be recognized the world around; they are globally known as being play-things for others. In this poem, the narrator describes the numerous society pressures and expectations that are placed upon young women, which can and will ultimately lead to exhaustion and self-image difficulties. Much like a woman’s emotions and mental state, Barbie dolls can be physically torn apart and destroyed. In this way, Piercy is likening women to Barbie dolls, because this is society’s expectation for women: to be perfectly dressed, fit, and completely controllable.

How does Piercy use her poetic platform to make a political statement?

Many of Piercy’s poems address and explore themes of female empowerment, self-assurance, and societal pressures/expectations. She suggests that society is grooming girls from the moment they’re born to mindlessly follow the demands and instructions of men. Women are taught to distance themselves from intellectual endeavors, in favor of making themselves beautiful for the pleasures of others. They are told to be desirable and to meet all the physical demands that are placed upon them. In this way, Piercy uses her political platform to fight against these sexist, societal pressures. She chronicles numerous scenarios and metaphors that capture and characterize the female existence in a world where women’s voices, thoughts, and needs are repressed.