Oscar Wao- Physical Appearance

Prompt: How does physical appearance effect ones life?
     Physical appearance serves as a major focus for many humans. One reason as to why people may change the way they appear is to boost their self esteem. This subject plays a crucial role throughout the book of The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz. Here, Oscar is very self conscious when it comes to the way that he views himself. On page 16, it states "Over the next couple of years he grew fatter and fatter. Early adolescence hit him especially hard, scrambling his face into nothing you could call cute, splotching his skin with zits." These types of changes are prominent throughout teenage age years as children go through their pubescent stage. Most people have a hard time dealing with these types of changes because it is not fully in their control.

      Many people also struggle with personal flaws because they fear judgement. This is also the case with Oscar because he does not fit the stereotypical "normal Dominican man." To become more of a representation of this, on page 30 it states that he takes steps like getting a haircut and buying contacts. Just like many others, these are some of the attempts that people make to fit in with the crowd. I believe that people find this very important because they don't want to feel excluded. By tweaking certain things about yourself, it can make you more confident and satisfied with the way you appear.