You're Ugly Too

You're Ugly Too, a short story by Lorrie Moore, initially was one where I tried to understand the motives and background experiences of Zooey to understand her cynicism for denying the enjoyment of love or partnership. Once learning of her sister who constantly talks of her new fiance' and her spoiled new life with husband-to-be, I understood more why Zooey might be fed up with hearing of love, especially since her sister forces upon her meeting new guys and possible future suitors. However, I believe surprisingly her sister does her a favor because the relationship between Zooey and Earl starts to get somewhere after they really get talking, but as I should have guessed, even when things go smoothly, Zooey denies herself the opportunity to love and ends it with Ear; immediately. However, this is not in the least bit surprising considering underlying text which somewhat foreshadowed this would be the case. When Evan first brought up Earl on the phone while talking to Zooey, Zooey's response to the two of them meeting was: "I just want to come, wear my bonehead, visit with Charlie's tropical fish, ask you about your food shoots,"(Moore,358). This shows Zooey being completely disinterested in the idea of meeting a man, and more interesting in being uninteresting and staring at fish though a glass tank. Once getting to the party, Zooey groans when her sister urges her yet again to meet Earl. Zooey's stubbornness suggests she probably won't get much into the relationship with Earl, considering it is all forced, and she cares nothing for introducing herself to him. Aggravating that Zooey cannot let herself be proved wrong that love may actually work out for her someday if she let it.