When settlers arrived in North America on the Mayflower in 1620, the newly established society's primary concern was ensuring its survival; However, nowadays Western consumer society has emphasized superficial ideals, especially the value of outward appearance. Over the past few centuries, society, particularly in the West, has shifted from a concern focused on the preservation of life to a preoccupation with extraneous superficial values ​​such as those focused on material objects and physical appearance . Advertisements are increasing, indoctrinating girls into believing that they need to wear makeup to “look pretty,” brainwashing boys into believing that they need to “build muscle.” The novel Revolutionary Road by Richard Yate addresses the existence of superficial values ​​in society. The aesthetic appearance gives Frank Wheeler a false sense of confidence, illustrated by the contrasts between clothed and naked, imagined and real, and practiced and natural states. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essayThe contrast between Frank Wheeler's clothed and naked state illustrates the false sense of confidence his physical appearance gives him. As Frank wakes early in the morning, undressed for the day, he reflects: "He had planned, as soon as he had coffee, to get dressed and go out and take the lawnmower from her [April], by force if necessary. , in order to restore the balance of the morning as much as possible. But he was still in his bathrobe, unshaven and fumbling with the electricity buttons... For a second he thought about hiding, but it was too late. She [Mrs. Givings] had already seen him through the screen door… He was caught. He had to open the door and stand there in a welcoming attitude. (Yates 41) In Frank's naked state, he lacks confidence and power. In Western culture, mowing the lawn is generally a male responsibility that falls to a male figure in the household. However, while Frank is naked in his bathrobe, April, a woman, mows the lawn, thereby assuming Frank's male role as head of the house. Frank, in his undressed state, does not have the authority to restore the "morning balance" by picking up April's lawnmower and fulfilling his masculine obligation. Essentially, Frank feels incapable of exerting power even over a woman, those who are generally considered submissive and weak, at least until he puts on clothes. Additionally, Frank states that his "morning balance" is disrupted, illustrating that he feels inadequate and insecure; in a conventional or "balanced" relationship, April would play the role of a submissive housewife. However, Frank literally concedes that, in her naked state, April sits higher on the power continuum, tipping that of an orthodox relationship, creating an imbalance or dilemma. Frank understands that the solution to this problem is to confiscate the lawnmower and assume male responsibility, but he cannot gain the confidence to do so until he is dressed. Frank is clumsy and clumsy in his naked state, "fumbling" in a fit of incoordination, a description that does not indicate a confident individual. Additionally, Frank displays shame and apprehension at his unclothed state; Frank feels he must resort to "hiding" from Mrs. Givings. He doesn't even have the conviction to stand up and greet a family friend. When Mrs. Givings sees Frank unchanged, he believes himself to be "caught", as if his true nature is insecurehad been revealed. Being found poorly dressed serves as a metaphor for being discovered. Frank believes that Mrs. Givings has discovered his "dirty little secret" that Frank is not really a confident and powerful individual, but rather that his state of mind depends on his outward appearance. Additionally, Frank is afraid that Mrs. Givings will realize that even though Frank is in his "naked" state, April, who is still mowing the lawn, wearing the pants in the relationship, is more powerful than Frank. Frank has a preconceived idea that clothes will give him confidence and authority. As soon as Frank is "dressed up", he feels he will have the mental vigor to "take over" the lawnmower, thus painting a much more confident and strong personality. In fact, he is prepared to use “force if necessary.” By donning clothes, Frank will not only have the mental confidence to reestablish his masculinity, but also the physical strength to exert it through force. So, in a broader sense, clothing acts as a metaphor for counterfeiting or self-making. Frank shows that putting on clothes, adding to his physical appearance, gives him a false sense of confidence that is not present in his naked state. The juxtaposition between Frank's imagined and realized self further demonstrates the superficial sense of arrogance that physical aesthetics provide him. Frank reflected while looking in a mirror: "He looked in the mirror, clenching his jaw and turning his head a little to one side to make him look thinner and more imposing, the face he had given himself in mirrors since childhood and what no photography had ever managed to achieve” (Yates 16). A photograph is a snapshot image of a particular moment, an image that captures an accurate and realized representation of a certain individual or scene. Frank believes that "no photograph has ever really achieved" his mental expectations and self-visualizations. Thus, Frank is unhappy and lacks self-confidence, hinting at his true nature. The mirror also provides Frank with a realized copy of himself: a mirror is a reflective surface that spits out a clear illustration of an individual. Frank, however, is troubled by this portrait, as evidenced by the fact that he feels the need to change the reflected image. By turning his face and clenching his jaw, Frank turns toward a favorable imagined representation of his physical appearance. Frank considers himself “thinner,” a condition that connotes good health and good appearance. Frank is simply not content with the way he naturally looks at himself in the mirror, but rather feels the need to activate his imagination in order to feed his narcissistic desires, to analyze his own "beauty". The process of distorting his face in the mirror to appear more handsome provides Frank with false assurance, illustrating the role that physical appearance plays in altering his mental state. Furthermore, Frank’s imagined self is “bigger.” The one in command is a masculine embodiment of strength and arrogance, ordering others to act in a certain way. After Frank distorts the mirror image, he sees himself as "more imposing", indicating a change in personality, when in reality the only change that occurred was an imagined change in physical appearance. This change in attitude shows that Frank's traits are not authentic, but rather derive from his appearance and are flexible to change depending on how he imagines himself. Thus, the contrast between Frank's insecure realized self and his imagined, more beautiful and powerful self reveals the false sense of confidence that physical appearance can provide. Additionally, the contrast between the versions.