Reflection of "The Youngest Doll"

When I read "The Youngest Doll" I pitied the aunt due to the struggles she had gone through with that prawn in her calf. I was surprised and angered by the doctor's actions because he could have cured the aunt's calf from the beginning but chose not to, the son clarifies“ ‘You could have cured this from the start,” (Ferre, Rosario 247).  The doctor recognized, and admitted to his actions but continued to take advantage of the aunt’s condition; even after she had fully trusted his words just to make money off of her bad condition “ ‘but I just wanted you to come and see the prawn that has been paying for your education these twenty years’ ” (Ferre, Rosario 247).  With that being said, I truly saw what a monster the doctor is.  As I kept reading towards the middle of the story, I became shocked, and more angered by the son’s actions. I could not believe how ambitious, materialistic, and so obsessed with the idea of being wealthy he was. The son wanted to outsmart his wife by selling the parts of the doll, however it was she who outsmarted him.  The wife after being asked where she had placed the doll by her husband, answered “Since its hands and face were of Mikado porcelain…They must have thought they were made of sugar..” (Ferre, Rosario 248).  The wife referred to the ants for the disappearance of the doll. The wife knew her husband’s intentions with the doll and lied to him about what had happened to it.  I was so sad in the end because I couldn't believe the fact that the niece was replaced by a doll and the doctor's son hadn't noticed a thing for years. “ ..He was aging, the youngest still kept that same firm porcelained skin she had had..at the big house on the plantation” (Ferre, Rosario 248-9).  Throughout the years the son never noticed his wife, nor did he notice that a doll replaced his wife.  I think that the niece deserved a better life than the life she lived by her husband, because of his lack of attention in her.  I was definitely surprised in the end because, one would think that being married to a person would make one notice everything about their partner; however the son did not notice anything about his wife being replaced by the doll.

After reading “The Youngest Doll” background, it had helped me comprehend more why the male’s sudden interest in wealth.  It had also made me understand why the doll’s materials were worth so much.  When I read it, it helped me portray women’s role and their obligations at that time.  It’s no wonder the doctor’s son was so obsessed with showing off his wealth, that’s what was mostly admired in that time.  The background information helped me comprehend the role of men and how they acted in society.  In the story, the son becomes extremely materialistic and starts to sell parts of the doll to treat himself with overpriced objects “One day, he pried out the doll’s eyes with the tip of his scalpel and pawned them for a fancy gold pocket watch with a long embossed chain” (Ferre, Rosario 248).  The son started to show off his things to give people the illusion of his wealth.  At that time women were being replaced with men, and older men were replaced by the new generation of men.  The son was just a beginner at his profession so he wanted to let everyone know he was also wealthy, and his trophy wife was the proof; since women were not allowed to work, they had to stay at home and be a "trophy" wife “ Each day he made her sit out in the balcony, so that passerby would be sure to see that he had married into high society” (Ferre, Rosario 248).  The background story made me realize the significance of the doll, the portrayal of society, and of men and women.