Young versus old. Death versus eternal life. The positive effects of society’s pressure versus the negative. Marge Piercy’s “Barbie Doll” and Dick Schneider’s “Youth’s Progress” are a study in the themes mentioned above. There are many obvious similarities in the chronological structure and irony of the two works. However, the reader will find that there are more thought-provoking contrasts than initially meet the eye. Not surprisingly, the poems follow the natural …showed first 75 words of 440 total…

…showed last 75 words of 440 total…mold. To some, the immortalized life of Schneider is preferable to the tragic death of Piercy’s girlchild Young versus old. Death versus eternal life. The positive effects of society’s pressure versus the negative. The course a life will take is ultimately decided by the individual, the sum of his choices and reactions to the cards dealt to him by Life. The choice is yours. Bibliography Bowland, Eavan. “It’s a Woman’s World,” 1982.