Poem

Word Count (not including quotes): 905

“The Falling Girl”, a story by Dino Buzzati, presents a critique of society’s high expectations, the pressure to fit in, and the focus on wealth and how they negatively affect a woman’s mental health, self image, and motivation to succeed.

According to the World Health Organization, “there is a strong association between poverty and mental illness” along with those who have a low level of education and are unemployed (Pasadena Villa). These same people are suseptible to discrimination in the work place due to their failure to conform to society’s expectations of a successful human being. When the reader is first introduced to Marta, the main character in this story, the reader can see that her act of suicide stems from her feeling that she will never fit in. She first passes the millionaires’ balconies in which she noticed that they were all “just groups of carefree people” (Buzzati, 626). This goes to show that society has created the rich as the highest social group, the group of people that are above everyone else. They are almost confused as to why Marta would choose to do this to herself, which reflects society’s ignorance towards mental health in those less “successful” whether that be financially or career wise. They view Marta as entertainment more than anything. Society has had “many opportunities to cultivate an empathetic and therapeutic cultural and societal approach” when it comes to people struggling, but the toxic hierarchy system within society has made that a difficult and somewhat taboo thing to do (Pasadena Villa).

It is prevalent in society that women have a very unique and rigorous set of expectations pushed onto them. Throughout history, social factors have increased depression rates in women due to factors such as “stress from work, family responsibilities, the roles of and expectations of women” along with one of the more toxic expectations: physical appearance (Mental Health America). The reader learns that there are other women falling along with Marta. The author describes one of the women as “decidedly prettier than Marta and she wore a rather classy evening gown” (Buzzati, 626). She was also falling much faster than Marta, which made it seem like more of a contest to her. Even in her fall, Marta felt the pressure to look the prettiest, have the nicest clothes, the nicest body and be the most self assured. Feeling less self assured instills her with fear which in effect, causes her to feel worse, even in her descent to the ground. It has become apparent that “the more women are getting antagonized over their inability to do everything and be everything” that society expects them to be, the more they have to choose themselves over others (Buhungiro). This is also reflected when the tenants of the bottom floor of the building realize that the apartments on the higher floors cost more not only because of the view of the beautiful city, but the beautiful women. The tenants’ diversion at the bottom of the building is less pleasant due to all the women being old. This goes to show that appearance alone has created a hierarchy inside the overarching social hierarchy. Though “women’s greater emotional literacy and readiness to talk to others about their feelings and seek help may protect them from suicidal feelings”, it doesn’t work as well when women are in this competition with each other trying to fit society’s ideal image of what a woman should be (RAMH).

Within societies, especially American societies, “women are typically viewed as more emotional, sensitive and dependent” (Michael). Society often fails to consider the concept that women should be able to live their lives to the fullest, expressing their true emotions, desires, and strengths. Glennon Doyle, a female author and blogger, stated it as “if we aren’t allowed to be these things, we will hide from one another” (Michael). This idea is reflected throughout the story in many different settings, but most notably when Marta reaches the ground floor. The ground floor is filled with all the elderly people who go about their day hearing the sounds of women hitting the ground all day, and that is the only opportunity they have in regards to the lives of these women. However when Marta came around, there was no sound of her hitting the ground. This shows that Marta slowed down enough to enjoy the fall. She realized what life had to offer, not what society had to offer, because what society had to offer was the thing holding her back from her full potential. At this point, the people in the building saw her as a “decrepit old woman”, but she didn’t know, so she didn’t care. She focused solely on being free from society’s expectations of her and that is what made her different from all the rest of the women that fell (Buzzati, 276). At this point, the reader also realizes the bravery and audacity it took for Marta to be herself in this situation. Despite that “it is also found that women are more likely to internalize emotions” which results in loneliness, depression and at worst suicidal thoughts, Marta realized that she could determine her own state and rise above these societal normalities (Michael).

It is undeniable that society’s actions of placing high expectations on people, especially women, has caused them to feel immense amounts of stress and pressure to

be noticed and fit in. This goes hand in hand with low self esteem, depression which could undoubtedly lead to both mental and physical suicide. From the beginning, Marta knows that she isn’t going to fit in with her cheap, simple dress. She knows that many other women were unbothered by the fact that they were falling, but had much prettier things than her. She learned through this experience that the key is to cherish what you have and realize that life is beautiful. She learned that there is always the possibility of pleasure, but it is up to the person whether that pleasure is achieved within oneself or not.

Works Cited