In “Beauty” first published in Vogue magazine in 1975, Sontag traces the history of a word which was once defined as "general excellence" but which has often been used to characterize "female appearance." Her purpose in this essay is to show how a separation of appearance from reality has devalued the concept of beauty and, in the process oppressed women. The feminist author shows that over the centuries Westerners lave significantly altered their idea of beauty; the Greeks thought of it as the quality of personal excellence, whereas now the Westeners think of it as a surface attractiveness that gives power to its possessor.
About the writer Susan Sontag
Susan
Sontag, critic, novelist and screenwriter, was educated at the University of
California, the University of Chicago, Harvard University, and Oxford
University. She worked for several years as the instructor and writer in
residence at different universities. Her first novel The Benefactor appeared in 1964. With the publication of Against Interpretation (1966), Sontag
established herself as a major social critic. She has written another novel Death Kit (1967), numerous short
stories, and several screenplays, but she is best known for her nonfiction.
Some of her books-Trip to Hanoi
(1969), Styles of Radical Will
(1969), Illness as Metaphor (1977),
and Under the Sign of Saturn (1980)
exhibit Sontag's polemical style, her political obsessions, and some evidence
for her reputation as the "Dark Lady of American Literature." But in
these same books, in her articles in magazines such as Atlantic and Harpert's,
and most particularly in her widely praised On
Photography (1976), Sontag reveals her extraordinary ability to understand
and interpret modern art. Her nonfiction AIDS
and its Metaphors (1889), novel The Volcano
Lover (1992), and drama Alice in Bed
(1993) entertain the isaues of art while satisfying the rigors of her own
intellect.
Summary of the essay Beauty by Susan Sontag
In this
essay, Susan Sontag portrays how a women's beauty has been degraded while being
called beautiful. Over the years, women have been regarded as the fairer
gender. Susan discusses various implications of beauty, specifically for women.
She argues that women should not significantly value their outlooks rather than
their abilities (inner beauty).
According to
the essay, ancient Greek society placed an enormous amount on inner beauty. It
would be better if inner beauty or talent is matched by outer beauty.
Sontag
provides a clear analogy for her views on the value of a woman. For the Greeks,
beauty was a virtue: a kind of excellence. She effectively compares the Greek
concept with her idea of what people assume today. It is surprising when a
beautiful girl is also talented, intelligent, and so on. Many people would like
to agree that intelligence, talent, goodness, and outer beauty are rare
combinations. However, others could argue that intelligence, talent, and
goodness are also rare in ugly people.
According to
Sontag, in patriarchy, women are valued too much for their looks and too little
for other qualities. Beauty has become something essential to a woman's
character. The contrast between the importance of beauty to men and women has
given beauty a mixed reputation. Women now must be beautiful. Sontag uses this
opportunity to describe the challenges faced by Women to be beautiful. Beauty,
thus, becomes a form of self-oppression.
In this way,
throughout the essay, Sontag continuously compares the standard of beauty of a
woman to that of men. She brings up the fact that women are beautiful but men
are handsome. Besides just focusing on outer beauty, women also should be
critical regarding the concept of beauty given by society. She thinks that the success
and achievement of women through hard work also should be taken as beauty. In
the name of beauty, women are exploited and dominated in society.
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Frequently asked questions from the essay Beauty
1. What is the conventional attitude
about beauty that Sontag seeks to discredit?
Ans: The conventionally used beauty signifies the
attraction of physical appearance. In Greek, beauty has been distinguished as
inner beauty (intellect) and outer beauty (facial attraction). The author seeks
to discredit this outer beauty because it has devalued the concept of beauty
which signifies the wholeness, excellence, and the virtue of humans during the
classical time.
Sontag wants
to revive the old Greek concept of inner beauty. Socrates's disciples had
observed the inner beauty in him although he was ugly in look.
2. If beauty is a source of power,
why does Sontag object to women's striving to attain it?
Ans: Beauty is a form of power. A female is always looked
at with a suspicious eye even if she has a good rise in work, politics, law,
medicine, business, or whatever. She is always under pressure to confess that
she still works at being attractive. This power is not the power to do but to
attract. As a result, women's striving to attain it makes them feel inferior to
what they are. They cannot choose this power freely on their capacity is always
under social censorship. That's why the author objects to women's striving to
attain beauty
3. What change in attitude do you
think Sontag wants to bring about in her female readers? In male readers?
Ans: Sontag wants to bring a complete change in attitude
in her female readers. The conventional attitude on beauty has confined women's
potentiality. The author wants to emphasize inner beauty- vision and wisdom,
which is long-lasting and more fruitful. A woman should not limit them to being
beautiful outwardly. If they only focus to be beautiful, it will certainly make
them more inferior and dependent on the male. Sontag holds the view that
without being beautiful too, women can compete with males.
Similarly,
male readers too should not see females as sex objects. They should view them
as they see males. They should always think that males and females are mentally
and physically similar.
4. What is your personal definition
of beauty?
Ans: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Beauty is
everywhere and in every object but the matter is how we look. It can be found
in a person, place, and nature.
5. Give two examples of people who
fit your definition of beauty. Discuss their traits and characteristics related
to your definition.
Ans: The word "beautiful" holds more meaning to
it than you would think. If people have two types of beauty: inner and outer,
they are the luckiest person in the world. Personally, I find two types of
beauty in Rajesh Hamal and Mother Teresa. Both of them hold the definition of
two types of beauty. Hamal is a megastar of Nepali movies who is very studious
and well known in Nepali society. As he is, Mother Teresa was the founder of
the Order of the Missionaries of Charity.
6. Sontag's claims about the place of
beauty in a culture applicable to Nepali culture as well? Explain your answer.
Ans: Yes, it is applicable in Nepali society. Only facial
beauty in the lack of inward talent is hollow. Females also should involve in
productive jobs and stand on own their legs. They should make their own
identity and involvement in politics. They should not bear patriarchal
domination. They should think that what males can do, they can also do better.
I think that biologically they are different but socially they are similar. So,
they should cut off thinking that they are weaker but should admire thinking
the mother of the world.
7. How are women "Damned if they do ...
And damned if they don't" (9)?" Explain.
Ans: The quoted line, "Damned if they do ... And
damned if they don't" means that female is blamed in both condition if
they do have beauty if they do not have beauty. To smarten, for a woman, can
never be just a pleasure. It is also a duty. It is her work. If a woman does
real work, she is always under pressure to confess that she still works at
being attractive. The writer says that as she keeps up as one of the fair sex,
she brings doubt her very capacity and talent.