envy

We have all had that feeling of envy, the strong desire to obtain or wanting something that someone else has. Whether, it is someone’s traits, status, abilities, or situation we have all had that feeling at least once. Envy is a curse of us human beings, although being envious is quite ugly, it also very blinding. Feeling envious allows us to feel and want what someone else had because we have some insecurity about the exact thing we desire however; we never see the great things in which we posses and qualities in which are unique to us. “But it’s what everybody wants. It’s the nasty secret at large in the world. It’s the unspoken tidal desire in every room and on every street. It’s the unspoken, the soundless whisper….millions upon millions of people longing hopelessly forever to stop being whatever they are and be beautiful” (1108).

In this play “Beauty” by Jane Martin, we see how envy takes ahold and blocks our positive vision of ourselves. We all have our own opinions on what being beautiful consists of, right away we see that Carla is a beautiful model she says to Bethany “Bethany, dear one, I have three modeling calls. I am meeting Ralph Lauren!”(1106). Right away we have this sense that Carla is a beautiful girl because she is meeting with a renowned modeling company Ralph Lauren. We quickly see what Bethany thinks the definition of beauty is, “You are the center of any moment of your life. People stare. Men flock. I’ve seen you get offered discounts on makeup for no reason. Parents treat beautiful children better. Studies show your income goes up. You can have sex anytime you want it. Men have to know me. That’s takes up to a year. I’m continually horny” (1108). Bethany clearing is stating the things that she sees in Car...

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...wants. It’s better than beauty for me; it’s better than brains for you. Different problems” (1109). We always want what we can’t have and we don’t realize that everyone has struggles and insecurities of their own. No one is perfect although it may seem that way on the outside, what’s going on, on the inside is another situation.

All in all we have all felt some degree of envy, its human nature and is something everyone experiences in their life. We should not let envy ruin our self-esteem and blind us to the more important things. Instead, we should embrace our own unique beauty and let it shine through. Overall, the author portrayed the main theme of envy over and over again and the resolution was all but the realization that envy just changes us and makes us different. “Envy comes from people's ignorance of, or lack of belief in, their own gifts.” -Jean Vanier