Dec 23, 2009

Barbie Doll | Summary

Lines 1-4: The title of this poem refers to Mattel’s Barbie Doll, a popular toy for young girls. The original Barbie—tall, shapely, with blonde hair and blue eyes—debuted in 1959 at the American Toy Fair in New York City. Mattel has manufactured a variety of “Barbies” since then—everything from Action Adventure Barbie, to “Mod” Barbie, to Francie, an African-American “Barbie.” The poem begins in a fairy-tale vein, the archaic term “girlchild” being used to underscore the mythic quality of the story. The dolls, stove, iron and lipstick are all traditional...