Alice Walker

I totally agree with Alice Walker’s selfhood. The way she distinct herself from her other siblings as being “the prettiest,” allows her father to dictate who’s going to the fair. This makes her feel like she is special between the bunch and the fact that her father chose her to go along with him and Miss Mey. The fair being described as a place where joy is being fulfilling, more like a wonderland. At this point, after being at the fair Alice starts to share her memories of the night. At this point she becomes annoying and it’s not good repeating things because people tend to get irritated and that’s how her siblings felt. Alice doesn’t know that because she’s aroused by her experiences. Alice is reciting a speech and she is in front of an audience who seems to be amused by her. She doesn’t care about what’s going on just focused about her speech cause at this point she feels important delivering such a sweet speech. Growing up, she gets a lot of attention based on her looks. Alice can’t believe what has happened to her eye, which is struck painfully by her brother’s BB gun. It leaves her looking uncoordinated and her eye becomes shut closed. Due to the accident, it gives Alice the chance to discover how people keep staring at her in an eccentric way. She doesn’t feel the same because she feel like she is some sort of monster due to her “disfigurement.”  This really brings her self-esteem down because she is used to being beautiful. She is not herself because it creates a scar and makes her feel lonely. It’s in fact a tragic because when people ask what happened, she gets uncomfortable and shuts down. She begins to get that feeling of what happened on that night. That day made her feel like she was unwanted and beautiful and there are people who shuts down when something different changes to them. They feel like they can never become that beautiful person they once were. People are very emotional and that’s the way Alice is thinking. Until her brother brings her to a hospital and helps with her “eye” problem. She is excited once again because she doesn’t have to worry about people staring at her in a horrific way, making her feel like what she once was, BEAUTIFUL. Ironically, she leaves high school with high honors and other memorable awards. Later on she realizes that she has to embrace her new image even if others have their opinions. That’s what we all do when we feel insecure about ourselves sometimes. Shutting ourselves down and feel threatened by others, but you have to learn how to embrace the new changes and just be happy for everything. That’s what Alice eventually learns at the end of the novella. Not everyone can be beautiful at all times but it’s how you carry yourself in your image and the way you live your life not being in fear of the next persons voice.