You are ugly, too Analysis
You are ugly, too
Last 2 paragraphs, page 444: Zoe seemed to be unsure about everything, including herself. She bought furniture then returned them because they didn’t look like what her had expected. She doubt whether the Chinese symbols on the rug really meant Peace and Eternal Life as the salesgirl said. And she eventually returned the rug. She was not quite sure about herself as well. She worried that the woman she saw everyday was not herself: “Sometimes I looked puffier and plainer than she remembered.” Each time she was told that she looked like other people, she doubt more about her looking. Just by listing her actions and thoughts, the author successfully described Zoe as a cynical and possibly depressed character.
Page 446, when she flew to NYC: Zoe revealed her trick to flying safe: never buying a discount ticket and telling yourself you have nothing to live for anyway. And even if the flight was safe, she suggested coming up with a persuasive reason to go on living. It sounded like Zoe always prepared herself for anything bad happens, like she really “had nothing to live for”. Zoe
Conversation with Earl: In this story, the author Lorrie Moore emphasized sexual relationships between man and woman. The conversation was impressed by how Zoe replied to Earl’s talking. Earl tried really hard to talk about love and relationships, but eventually got beaten by Zoe’s sarcastic replying. He said: "You know, I just shouldn't try to go out with career women. You're all stricken. A guy can really tell what life has done to you. I do better with women who have part-time jobs." Zoe’s past experience with three unrewarding relationships made her become alienated and desperate. Her situation is a common for professional women at that time.
Last 2 paragraphs, page 444: Zoe seemed to be unsure about everything, including herself. She bought furniture then returned them because they didn’t look like what her had expected. She doubt whether the Chinese symbols on the rug really meant Peace and Eternal Life as the salesgirl said. And she eventually returned the rug. She was not quite sure about herself as well. She worried that the woman she saw everyday was not herself: “Sometimes I looked puffier and plainer than she remembered.” Each time she was told that she looked like other people, she doubt more about her looking. Just by listing her actions and thoughts, the author successfully described Zoe as a cynical and possibly depressed character.
Page 446, when she flew to NYC: Zoe revealed her trick to flying safe: never buying a discount ticket and telling yourself you have nothing to live for anyway. And even if the flight was safe, she suggested coming up with a persuasive reason to go on living. It sounded like Zoe always prepared herself for anything bad happens, like she really “had nothing to live for”. Zoe
Conversation with Earl: In this story, the author Lorrie Moore emphasized sexual relationships between man and woman. The conversation was impressed by how Zoe replied to Earl’s talking. Earl tried really hard to talk about love and relationships, but eventually got beaten by Zoe’s sarcastic replying. He said: "You know, I just shouldn't try to go out with career women. You're all stricken. A guy can really tell what life has done to you. I do better with women who have part-time jobs." Zoe’s past experience with three unrewarding relationships made her become alienated and desperate. Her situation is a common for professional women at that time.