Why does Gloria play with Sasha’s toys?
Within the extravagant array of colors, shimmering gowns, and plastic smiles of Barbieland, the narrative of "Barbie" goes far deeper, unfolding an intricate tapestry of emotion, struggle, and realization. One character that resounds with complexity is Gloria - the catalyst of Barbie's existential crisis. She is an intriguing figure, a Mattel employee, a mother, and a woman wrestling with her midlife crisis. Perhaps what is most compelling about Gloria is the unseen and understated motivations that propel her actions, in particular, her interactions with Sasha's Barbie toys.
Before diving deeper into Gloria’s actions, let's first consider a parallel from the realm of pop culture - "Toy Story 3". In this Pixar masterpiece, we encounter a similar dynamic. Just as Andy has outgrown his toys, leading to their existential crisis, Gloria's meddling with Sasha's Barbies can be seen as an inadvertent projection of her own fears and anxieties onto these inert plastic figures.
But why would Gloria, a mature woman, resort to manipulating her daughter's toys? One could argue it's a simple response to her midlife crisis. However, to construe Gloria's interactions merely as symptoms of her age-related crisis would be to oversimplify her character's depth. Instead, let's see Gloria as a complex, multi-layered character, subtly shaped by societal pressures, and personal fears of aging and fading into irrelevance.
Gloria, working in a toy-making company, is surrounded by the childlike whimsy and youthfulness embodied in Barbie dolls. Yet, her reality is starkly different. She's faced with aging, societal expectations, and pressures, living a life that’s anything but perfect. As the plastic façade of Barbieland mocks her personal reality, she seeks refuge in her daughter’s Barbie toys. A strange escape, you might think, but Gloria’s actions echo another pop culture narrative - Peter Pan's Neverland.
Similar to the way Neverland offered an escape from growing old to the boy who wouldn't grow up, Gloria finds her own Neverland within the world of Sasha's Barbies. However, unlike Peter Pan, who relishes in his eternal youth, Gloria is haunted by her inevitable aging and uses the Barbie toys to confront her fears, albeit subconsciously. Thus, through her interactions with Sasha's Barbie dolls, Gloria engages in a dialogue with her younger self, attempting to reconcile her past aspirations and present realities.
It’s here where we see the potential transfer of Gloria's midlife crisis onto Barbie, in the form of the doll's existential crisis. Like a twisted game of Chinese whispers, Gloria’s fears and anxieties subtly permeate Barbie's plastic existence. These interactions trigger the doll’s unexpected bout of depression and worry over mortality, thereby launching the overarching narrative of the movie.
Gloria’s interactions with Sasha's Barbie toys aren't merely driven by her own midlife crisis, but are symbolic of her struggle to reclaim a sense of purpose and agency in a world that continually marginalizes her as she ages. She is more than a catalyst for Barbie's existential journey. She is an embodiment of the struggle against societal expectations, a desperate fight against aging, and the personification of a woman seeking solace in the unforgiving world of youth and beauty.
By taking a closer look at Gloria's interactions with Sasha's Barbies, we unearth a narrative much more complex and layered than just a simple midlife crisis. We delve into a world shaped by societal pressures, personal anxieties, and the unending search for purpose and relevance. Like Gloria, we may not live in a plastic world, but we often find ourselves dancing with our younger selves, seeking solace in the comfort of our own private Neverland.
