Superficial Values in Revolutionary Road Anonymous 11th Grade

When colonial settlers arrived in North America on the Mayflower in 1620, the primary concern of the newly established society was to ensure survival; however, nowadays, Western consumer society has placed a significant emphasis on shallow ideals, particularly the worth of outward appearance. Over the past few centuries, society, particularly in the West, has transformed from being concerned with life preservation to being concerned with extraneous superficial values such as those that focus on material objects and physical appearance. Advertisements run rampant, indoctrinating girls into believing they need to use makeup to “look pretty,” brainwashing boys into believing they need to “bulk up” with muscle. Richard Yate’s novel Revolutionary Road tackles the existence of superficial values in society. Aesthetic appearance provides Frank Wheeler with a false sense of confidence exemplified by the contrasts between the states of clothed and bare, imagined and real, and practiced and natural.

The contrast between Frank Wheeler’s clothed and bare states illustrates the false sense of confidence physical appearance provides him. As Frank awakes early in the morning, undressed for the day, he considers:

He planned, as soon as he’d...