this is the essay so far I just need you to make it more coherent and answer the question and support my thesis: Through allusions to fairy tales in ‘Skin Folks,’ Hopkinson exposes the dangers of pursuing youth and beauty by displaying the consequences and unfulfillment that come with it.Ill put in what I have so far on my essay. This needs to use quotes from the short stories I talked about. fourth paragraph needs a lot of work. I’ll attach a doc with my essay so far I have a lot of information on it about the way I have the essay formatted. This is a ib hl inquiry essay which is graded harshly. ESSAY:
Beauty is portrayed as a desirable trait in society, but what happens when pursuing beauty becomes detrimental? Through allusions to fairy tales in ‘Skin Folks,’ Hopkinson exposes the dangers of pursuing youth and beauty by displaying the consequences and unfulfillment that come with it. ‘Skin Folks’ is a collection of short stories by Nalo Hopkinson. Specific short stories in ‘Skin Folks’ that this essay will be focusing on in this essay are “Riding the Red”, “Precious” and “Greedy Choke Puppy”. All these short stories use allusions to fairy tales portraying these characters’ envy of youth and beauty and the detrimental effects that come from it.
“Precious” is a short story in ‘Skin Folks’ about a woman who lives with her stepmom, stepsister, and dad. The main character, Precious, was cursed with this ‘gift’ that allows her to create treasure through noise. In “Precious,” Hopkinson incorporates allusions to classic fairy tales to expose the dangers of prioritizing tangible beauty. Precious finds herself trapped in a life of servitude under an oppressive stepmother and stepsister, similar to Cinderella. “Precious” contrasts Cinderella because in Cinderella her dad is seen as a kind man that supports his daughter. While in ‘Precious’ the main character’s father “told me that a soft answer would turn away wrath” (Hopkinson 194). Precious’s father taught her to be docile and not to stand up for herself. Hopkinson emphasizes how Precious internalizes her father’s advice and tries to pacify her stepmother by responding with agreeableness, hoping to alleviate tensions: “As a young woman, I took his words to heart, tried to lull my stepmother with agreeableness, dull the edge of her taunts with a soft reply” (Hopkinson 194). Despite the unfairness of her situation, Precious goes about her chores cheerfully, even enduring the mockery of her stepmother and stepsister. In “Precious” the stepmother and stepsister were jealous of the main characters’ tangible beauty, being able to create jewels. This jealousy leads them to mistreat Precious and eventually, she leaves. Similarly to Cinderella, Precious is “rescued” from her toxic home situation by a man. Although, in “Precious” rather than getting a happy ever after this man that “saved” her is trying to take advantage of her tangible beauty. It becomes apparent throughout the story that Jude, the man that “saved” her, was just using her because of his greed for her gift. His greed for Precious tangible beauty ultimately led to Jude losing his wife. Precious despite having this gift that so many people are envious of is still unhappy and unable to express her feelings. While Judes’ constant need for Precious’s gift led him to “collapsed unconscious” (Hopkinson 199). Jude is killed by this tangible beauty he had been searching for and taking advantage of throughout the story. While losing this tangible beauty finally relieved Precious from the struggles it had added to her life. This just goes to show how people’s desire for beauty, the treasure being formed in this case, can ultimately lead to their downfall. This scene alludes to the classic Cinderella tale, where Cinderella’s stepmother and stepsisters are ultimately punished for their mistreatment. However, in “Precious,” the focus shifts from the stepmother and stepsisters to the exploitative nature of the rescuer’s actions. Hopkinson subverts the traditional Cinderella narrative to emphasize the vulnerability and exploitation that can arise from the pursuit of tangible beauty.
In “Riding the Red,” Hopkinson uses allusions to Little Red Riding Hood to explore the theme of longing for lost youth and beauty. “Riding the Red” is a short story about a grandmother who is reminiscing about her youth while also exploring things she would have done different and the dangers of her past relationship. The grandmother embarks on a journey through the woods, encountering a manipulative partner who symbolizes the allure of youthful appearance. The grandmother’s desire to regain her lost attractiveness blinds her to the dangers of engaging in a destructive relationship. Hopkinson artfully intertwines this allusion when the grandmother reflects on her task of plucking flowers with delicate hands, emphasizing the seductive nature of external beauty (2). The warning from the manipulative partner about riding the red and the mention of smelling blood reinforce the connection to the Little Red Riding Hood narrative (1). Through this allusion, Hopkinson underscores the harmful consequences of fixating on physical appearance and emphasizes the importance of valuing oneself beyond surface beauty.
In “Riding Red,” the quote “The red hood was mine, to catch his eye, and my task it was to pluck all those flowers, to gather fragrant bouquets with a delicate hand” (2) alludes to the fairy tale of Little Red Riding Hood. Through this allusion, Hopkinson explores the theme of longing for lost youth and beauty. The grandmother’s journey through the woods symbolizes her desire to regain her lost attractiveness, and her encounter with a manipulative and abusive partner represents the allure of youthful beauty. The quote “You’re growing up, hmm; getting dreamy? Pretty soon now, you’re going to be riding
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In the story “Guilty Puppy,” Hopkinson references the fairy tale about succubi, supernatural entities known for their seductive beauty and life-draining abilities. The main character, J, becomes consumed by his pursuit of eternal youth and falls into the trap of a succubus-like figure. This allusion reveals how J’s obsession with external beauty leads to his tragic downfall. Hopkinson seamlessly incorporates the reference to succubi when describing the Caribbean equivalent of the vampire myth, highlighting the connection between J’s fate and the destructive nature of succubi (138). The dialogue where the succubus confesses to killing her own flesh and blood further emphasizes the consequences of greed for youth and external beauty (143). By employing this allusion, Hopkinson serves as a cautionary voice, warning against the dangers of valuing only physical appearance.
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The story “Guilty Puppy” references the fairy tale about succubi, supernatural entities known for their seductive beauty and life-draining abilities. J, the main character, becomes obsessed with maintaining his youthful appearance and falls into the trap of a succubus-like figure who promises eternal youth. The evidence reveals how J’s pursuit of external beauty leads to his ultimate downfall and tragic demise. By alluding to the fairy tale about succubi, Hopkinson explores the negative consequences of greed for youth and external beauty.
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“CVaribean equivalent of the vampire myth. See also “Azeman”. “Soucouyant” or “blood-sucker”, derives from the French verb “sucer”, to suck. The soucoulant is usally an old, evil tempered woman who removes her skin at night, hides it, and then changes into a ball of fire. She flies through the air, searching the homes in which there are babies.” (138)
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“You never had no patience. Doux-doux, you is my life, but you can’t kill so. That little child you drink, you don’t hear it spirit when night come” (143)
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“Your mami woulda make three, but i had to kill she too, send my own flesh and blood into the sun.”
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Granny killed her grandaughter due to her envinous to be younge
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integrate these quote really smoothly into the essay
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TIED Paragraph 4
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Throughout the stories in ‘Skin Folks,’ Hopkinson employs allusions to well-known fairy tales such as Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, and the tale of succubi. These allusions serve to establish a connection with readers and challenge societal norms surrounding beauty. The evidence shows how the pursuit of beauty is portrayed as a negative thing, promoting self-acceptance and highlighting the unfulfillment that accompanies the relentless chase for youth and beauty. By using fairy tales as allusions, Hopkinson invites readers to question and reconsider their beliefs about beauty and worth.
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Conclusion
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Through the exploration of allusions to fairy tales in ‘Skin Folks,’ Nalo Hopkinson provides valuable insights into the dangers of pursuing youth and beauty. By subverting traditional narratives and exposing the negative consequences of valuing external appearance, Hopkinson urges readers to shift their focus towards self-acceptance and the recognition of inner qualities. The use of fairy tales as allusions not only makes the themes more relatable and accessible but also emphasizes the cultural significance of these messages. Ultimately, Hopkinson’s stories serve as cautionary tales, encouraging readers to reevaluate societal notions of beauty and prioritize true fulfillment over an unattainable ideal.