0
0
Summary
This is the essay written by an American writer, filmmaker, philosopher, teacher, and political activist, Susan Sontag (1933-2004). The essay “Beauty” was first published in Vogue magazine in 1975. Her purpose in this essay is to show how a separation of appearance from reality has devalued the concept of beauty. She argues that women, should not valued for their outlooks rather they should also be valued for their inner beauty (abilities). She says how women’s beauty has been degraded. According to her beauty doesn’t refer to only women’s outer appearance.
According to the essay, ancient Greek society prioritized on inner beauty. For the Greeks, beauty was a virtue: a kind of excellence. They still expected that inner beauty would be matched by beauty of the other kind. Although Socrates was ugly in face, he was so intelligent, so brave, so honourable. The writer effectively compares the Greek concept with her idea of what people think today. It is actually surprising when an ugly girl is also talented, intelligent and so on but beautiful girl also may not be talented or intelligent. Many people would like to agree that intelligence, talent, goodness and outer beauty are rare combination. A beautiful woman, we say in English. But a handsome man. Woman is called beautiful due to women’s character and concerns. The man is called handsome because he is strong, or effective, or competent (सक्षम) Women are taught to see their bodies in parts, and to evaluate each part separately; breasts, feet, hips, waistline (कमर रेखा), neck, eyes, nose, hair, and so on. Everybody thinks beauty means how one looks. In contrast, for the man, handsome means what one is and what one does. It does not need to be confirmed by giving measurements of different body parts. Nobody encourages a man to study his appearance or feature by feature.
How the man looks it is secondary thing for him. It is not wrong, of course, the desire to be beautiful; but the obligation to be-or to try. Most women have accepted the flattering (चापलूसी) idealization (आदर्शीकरण) of their sex. This flattering idealization is making the women feel inferior to what they actually are-or normally grow to be. The women are said that beauty is a form of power and they are encouraged to seek that power. This power is always linked in relation to men. In fact, it is not the power to do but the power to attract. If the women are in leading position in politics, law, medicine, business, or whatever-she is always under pressure to confess that she still works at being attractive. The writer thinks that the success and achievement of women by the hard work also should be taken as beauty. In the name of beauty, women are exploited and dominated in the society.
Questions
1) What is the conventional attitude about beauty that Sontag seeks to discredit ?
Ans: The conventional attitude about beauty is the attraction of physical appearance. The author seeks to discredit this outer beauty because it has devalued the concept of beauty. The writer thinks that the success and achievement of women by the hard word also should be taken as beauty.
2) If beauty is a source of power, why does Sontag object to women’s striving to attain it?
Ans: Of course, beauty is a source of power but this power is only used to attract thinking that beauty means only outer appearance. A female is always looked at with suspicious eye connecting her outer beauty even if she is good at work, politics, law, medicine, business or whatever. In different sectors, she has the pressure to work being attractive. As a result, women’s striving to attain it makes them feel inferior what they actually are. They cannot transfer this power freely on her capacity. That’s why, the author objects women’s striving to attain beauty.
3) What do you think Sontag is saying to beautiful women? How do you think would respond? Why is it wrong to try to be beautiful?
Ans: I think that Sontag is saying to beautiful women to possess the inner beauty or talent. They should not be busy only to maintain outer beauty. They should also involve in decision making post. I think the beautiful women would take the writer’s idea positively. It is wrong to try to be only beautiful because an ugly girl may also be also talented, intelligent etc. and beautiful girl also may not be talented or intelligent.
4) What is your personal definition of beauty?
Ans: Gerferally, beauty means a combination of qualities, shape, colour, or form, that pleases the aesthetic senses, especially the sight. I personally thinks that beauty means the quality (outer or inner) present in a thing or person that gives intense pleasure or deep satisfaction to the mind. Beauty differs from person to person. One beautiful thing may seem ugly in the eyes of others. In fact, beauty is in every object but the matter is how we look. Some people find the beauty of persons and things while others can not.
Average Rating