Uglies- Scott Westerfeld

The message behind Scott Westerfeld’s novel ‘Uglies’ is that we should not focus on external beauty, rather look further into an individual’s personality. The novel demonstrates this message by exaggerating the effects of only focusing on external beauty through the Pretties, how they only care about having fun and how it lines up with our society. Uglies creates the idea of lesions in the brain to account for the way humans act when only focusing on external beauty, oblivious to the world around them. It also shows equality between the Uglies and how labels do matter on how you see yourself and the people around you. In his writing, Scott Westerfeld disguises these messages to suit the story line which forces you to think deeper about the book to find the message behind the text.
Scott Westerfeld’s novel ‘Uglies’ focuses on looking at ones inner beauty by exaggerating the effects of purely focusing on external beauty. Pretties- the worlds most admired group of humans, with perfect skin, big eyes and full lips. Scott Westerfeld shown the exclusivity and conformity of being a Pretty by saying “You’re still yourself on the inside, Shay. But when you’re pretty, people pay more attention.” As Westerfeld explains, in New Pretty Town, parties and having fun are the top priority; having a job and working are a bit further down in the list. This priority is in exchange for how some in the real world get trapped in the ‘Beauty Cycle’ this means getting caught up in things like putting yourself first, only caring about who you are and not noticing the world and what’s happening around you. During the course of the novel Westerfeld exaggerates the effects of this change- from the world of ‘Uglies’ where people are considerate of the environment and people around them to the Barbie Doll Play House like land of the Pretties where the hardest decision is how you will get into the next big party.
Scott Westerfeld confronts the issues of conformity by creating the idea of