Friday, February 17, 2012

What is the syntax used in the poem "Barbie Doll" by Marge Piercy?

Syntax refers to sentence structure, and a typical, grammatically correct sentence contains at least a subject (noun) and a predicate (verb or verbal phrase). Writers might take some license with this typical structure, the expected syntax, in order to emphasize something, to get us to look at something in a new way, or to create a sense of irony. In "Barbie Doll," typical syntax is manipulated this way in a few places.
Firstly, it is typical, when one describes a series of items, to include commas between each item and then the word "and" before the last item: for example, "I went to school, to my friend's house, and then home." However, the first stanza employs a device called polysyndeton, where all commas are omitted and replaced with the word "and" each time:

This girlchild was born as usual and presented dolls that did pee-pee and miniature GE stoves and irons and wee lipsticks the color of cherry candy.

This repetition of the word "and" draws attention to the length of the list itself, as well as the items in it, because the syntax is somewhat unexpected. The repetition makes it seem as though the list is compounded—it snowballs and seems like more than it otherwise would have if the syntax were typical. This little girl was presented with so many proofs of what would be expected of her in life: that she be a mother, that she cook and clean and take care of the house, and that she look really pretty and put together as she does it all. The atypical syntax draws our attention to the way society does this: from a very early age, little girls are already being told what their sphere ought to be, how they ought to act and dress and look.
Secondly, the atypical syntax in the final stanza registers the central irony of the poem.

In the casket displayed on satin she lay with the undertaker's cosmetics painted on, a turned-up putty nose, dressed in a pink and white nightie. Doesn't she look pretty? everyone said. Consummation at last.To every woman a happy ending.

It took "offer[ing]" up her nose and legs, her authentic self, for this woman to be accepted by society. She was declared unattractive and therefore of less value, and so she did what she could to change this. It resulted in her death, but society might say it was worth it—now she looks pretty. When the speaker says, "Consummation at last. / To every woman a happy ending," both sentences deviate from the typical syntax. These short sentences ensure we understand the irony: a beautiful dead woman is still more valued that a living ugly one. It is more important to be beautiful than to be intelligent, strong, healthy, or alive.

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