Eye of the Beholder story

tz1959e2x06 · 1960-11-11

A woman wrapped in bandages after facial surgery hopes that she will no longer be ugly. Aliases: The Private World of Darkness Directed by: Douglas Heyes. Story by: Rod Serling.

9 total · 2 choice · 5 major · 2 minor

ThemeLevelMotivation
beauty is in the eye of the beholder choice While Mrs. Tyler was a bombshell as judged by human standards, she was deemed a hideous deviant by the people of the pig-like race of people to which she belonged.
lookism in society choice A small minority of human-looking people were discriminated against by the pig-looking people.
coping with being an outcast major Mrs. Tyler and Mr. Smith lament their prospects as outcasts.
coping with being disfigured major Mrs. Tyler subjected herself to 11 treatments in a desperate effort to transform her "ugly" face into a normal looking one.
medical occupation major We saw a doctor and some nurses working in a hospital.
the need to belong major The revoltingly ugly Mrs. Tyler longed to look normal enough to not be treated as a freak by society.
totalitarian dystopia major Leader worship, and control of beauty standards seem indicative enough to label this speculative government totalitarian.
conformism in society minor The State's leader used the catchphrase "It's the norm to conform" in a speech he gave in which he urged conformism on everyone.
flat-panel display minor The State's leader's speech was show all over the hospital on large, flat-screen televisions.