Everything That Glitter Isnt Gold

Everything That Glitter Ain’t Gold

In the play “Beauty” by Jane Martin, the two main characters, Carla and Bethany, want what the other has. They are total opposites of one another. Carla is a beautiful model that has men chasing after her, but has no brain. Bethany on the other hand, is discontent with her appearance but is very smart and successful. Carla would rather be smart than beautiful, and Bethany would rather beautiful than smart. In the end, both girls realize that “everything that glitters isn’t gold.”

In the play, the genie symbolizes Bethany’s desire for beauty. She thinks beauty is the key to life and will bring her much good than she already has. She doesn’t know the consequences beauty brings, and doesn’t really care. Her friend Carla tries to warn her of the outcomes of being beautiful. Bethany is extremely jealous of Carla. She even tells Carla, “Jealousy. The ogre of jealousy,” is what makes her not like her sometimes. (542). Carla knows the disadvantages and problems of being beautiful. “I’m trying to tell you it’s no picnic,” she informs Bethany. (542). Ignoring her friends warning, Bethany wishes for beauty anyway. Her wish comes true, and she ended up switching places with Carla. This is not what she expected. She even says it in the play to Carla, “I wanted to be beautiful, but I didn’t want to be you.”(543). This comment shows a little tone of regret and that Bethany should have been careful of what she wished for. In actuality, both girls should have been grateful with what they already had instead of looking at their lacks. Both girls have different problems that they face in life that comes along with their beauty and smarts. They will soon encounter each other’s problem and wish they were themselves again.

The moral of this story is that people only see the bad side of their life and the good side of the others’. Also, it shows that people value the appearance more than what is inside. Bethany for example, she has a successful...