You're Ugly, Too

"You want a second opinion? OK," says the doctor. "You're ugly, too." pg. 360
You're Ugly, Too
Lorrie Moore


Zoe is the type of character that uses humor and sarcasm as a defense mechanism. She also tells jokes because she had a speech impediment when she was younger, so she would tell jokes because they were easy use in conversation since they were already mapped out. Zoe's sarcasm reveals her inner worries that exist within her: her younger sister is getting married before her, she is unable to bear children, and her love life is nonexistant. These problems cause her to feel bitter and feel the need to use sarcasm so that she can display her annoyance with life and reality. She may also use jokes in hopes that people see a positive attribute in her but it usually ends up backfiring as with Earl; she told him the violin story about love and it made him say "You're not at all like your sister," aka I do not have interest in you anymore. Zoe's loneliness leads to a downpour of problems in her life, such as low self-esteem, little self confidence and physical insecurities, and because of this she feels a need to make up for it by utilizing sarcasm and humor.