Beauty Is Not Enough

Author: Juliana Esmiranda Nukpeta-Mensah

Author’s Biography
 Author’s Biography
Juliana Esmiranda Nukpeta-Mensah is a professional
freelance Virtual Assistant and a Copy Editor with a dream
of becoming an acclaimed author and lecturer.

Fueled by a lifelong love for storytelling and reading, she

enrolled in creative writing courses and devoted her free
time to crafting short stories.

She took this further by writing a collection of short

stories as her long essay (Creative Writing) in Kwame
Nkrumah University of Science and Technology where she
attained her Bachelor of Arts degree in English.
 Author’s Biography
 Beauty Is Not Enough was originally birthed as a
submission for a miniature writing competition in 2019.
Unfortunately, the competition was cancelled.
 The story was later submitted to the Writers’ Club,
Association of Students of English, KNUST(ASEK) and it was
sampled and became one of the short stories in the
anthology, Of Voices And Movements which is the first
book launched by The Department of English, KNUST.
 Juliana Esmiranda Nukpeta-Mensah is currently an Mphil
student in the department of English, KNUST.
 Summary of the story
The story delves into the internal struggles and growth of the
protagonist, Emerald.
The narrative centers on two companions, Emerald and Beverly,
who hail from distinct backgrounds yet share a profound bond
with each other.
Emerald hails from a wealthy family, whereas Beverly comes
from a less affluent background. Emerald’s preoccupation with
her physical appearance leads her to neglect the cultivation of
positive attitudes towards her friends. As a result, all of
Emerald’s friends except Beverly, abandoned her.
 Summary of the story

In spite of this abandonment, Emerald makes no effort to

mend her self-centered attitude.
Eventually, Beverly adopts a cold attitude towards Emerald.

This prompts Emerald to engage in introspection, leading her

to amend her ways, improve her relationship with Beverly, and
later makes new friends.

The title Beauty Is Not Enough serves as a thematic anchor,

foreshadowing the central message that beauty alone is
insufficient in defining one’s character.
 .
 Plot
This narrative utilizes the linear plot which presents the events in
the story chronologically.
It begins with the establishment of the characters(Emerald and
Beverly) and the setting(a tertiary institution).
The conflict begins when Beverly distances herself from Emerald
without an explanation.
 In the rising action, Emerald contemplates on the sudden change
in behaviour of her friend and decides to speak with her after
lectures on Friday.
The climax in the story is when Beverly tells Emerald her self-
centeredness and snobbish attitude is harmful .
The falling action leads to the resolution. Emerald recognizes her
mistakes, makes the decision to change for the better and makes
up with Beverly.
 Point of View
The narrative is presented in the first person, i.e., from
Emerald’s point of view.
This creates a strong emotional bond between readers
and Emerald: readers feel as if they are part of the
story.
The personal account also adds a sense of realism to the
story: readers hear the story directly from Emerald who
has firsthand experienced of events in the story.
This perspective allows readers direct access to her
thoughts and emotions: Emerald’s initial obliviousness,
her self-realization, and her subsequent
transformation.
 Setting

The setting is in a tertiary institution.

 Specific details about the physical setting are not explicitly
provided.
the university setting grounds the characters in a realistic and
relatable environment.
The university setting fosters a culture of learning and
intellectual growth. i.e. Emerald grows from self-centeredness
to self realization.
 Characters
Em erald is the main character in the story.
She is a round character
She is initially portrayed as self-absorbed and oblivious
of the impact of her actions on others.
H er preoccupation with physical attractiveness and
material things is in sharp contrast to her ignorance of
loosing her friends, especially her relationship with her
best friend, Beverly.
 Characters
Emerald exhibits signs of narcissism, characterized by
grandiosity, a need for admiration, and a lack of empathy.
She represents people who believe they are destined for
greatness and deserve special treatment. Such people often
belittle others.
By the end of the story there are signs of potential growth in
Emerald.
 Characters
Beverly, the protagonist’s best friend, on the other hand,
represents a contrasting perspective, emphasizing the
importance of inner qualities and how one should treat
people around them.
 She embodies empathy: She demonstrates an ability to relate
to people on a deeper level, considering their feelings and
perspectives.
Beverly demonstrates loyalty and support to best friend: She
stands by her friend until Emerald’s behaviour gets out of
hand.
 Characters

She embodies a mature perspective on life and

relationships: Beverly’s character emphasis inner
qualities and treating others well. This contrasts with
Emerald who prioritizes superficial qualities.
 Themes
 Narcissism could lead to isolation
Emerald faces the consequences of her self-centered
attitude. This is marked by isolation and the loss of important
relationships.
Her inability to make friends leads to loneliness.
This highlights the theme of solitude due to narcissism in the
novel.
 Themes

V anity is detrim ental to m an: The narrative critiques

the superficial focus on physical beauty and material
wealth, at the expense of nurturing friendship. The
friendship between Emerald and Beverly serves as a
vehicle to explore the impact of one’s actions on any
human relationship.
Introspection is essential in all hum an relationships:
The story emphasizes the importance of self-awareness
and the potential for positive change. Emerald’s
resolution to improve herself underlines the narrative’s
hopeful message that introspection could heal ‘sick’
relationships.
 Diction

The diction is conversational and simple.

The story uses dialogue to convey interpersonal

relationship.
This allows the characters to express their
inner/personal thoughts and emotions.
 Literary Devices
Symbolism:
Emerald’s name and her love for jewels serve as symbolic
elements. While her name means precious, her obsession for
external adornments symbolizes superficiality. The
transformation in her character at the end of the story
symbolizes shedding these superficial layers of her character.
 Foreshadowing:
The title is a form of foreshadowing: it hints at the main message
of the story: beauty alone is not enough. This creates
anticipation and sets the thematic tone for the story.
 Literary Devices Cont.
Rhetorical Questions:
Rhetorical questions are used to create dramatic effects. They
allow readers to explore Emerald and Beverly’s inner
thoughts and minds and understand their emotional states.
E.g. “What did I do wrong?”…..
"You don't know what you did?”….
“how do I look? ….
What dress should I wear?....
What jewelry should I use?”…..
 Literary Devices Cont.
Irony:
Emerald’s initial self-admiration and the realization that her
perceived self-worth based on beauty and wealth is detrimental
to her relationships is ironic.
Beverly rejecting her becomes ironical as Emerald learns that
beauty is not enough for meaningful relationships.
Dialogue:
The dialogue between Emerald and Beverly serves as a powerful
literary device.
The confrontational dialogue reveals the underlying issues in
their friendship and propels the narrative forward. Beverly's
words, “BEAUTY IS NOT ENOUGH,” carries the story’s central
theme.
 Literary Devices Cont.
 T one & M ood:
• Initially, a tone of self-admiration and complacency dominates
as Emerald describes her physical appearance and luxurious
lifestyle.
• When Beverly distances herself from Emerald, the tone and
mood is filled with anxiety.
• The confrontation scene introduces a tense tone.
• After Emerald’s realization and her resolution to change, the
tone shifts towards remorsefulness.
• The mood moves from light and self-indulgent to
confrontational, reflective and ultimately recognition.
 Literary Devices Cont.
Imagery:
 Mirror Reflection: The opening imagery of looking at the
mirror and admiring one’s figure creates a visual
representation of Emerald’s initial self-indulgence. It sets the
stage for the later contrast when her self-perception is
shattered.
 Array of Jewels: The imagery of Emerald always having an
array of jewels is a visual motif representing her superficial
lifestyle.
 CLASS DISCUSSIO N
Do you think that Emerald’s self-centeredness is a common
trait in society? if so, what might be some reasons for its
prevalence?
Is Emerald’s self-centeredness a result of external influences or
internal characteristics?
How does the theme of self-centeredness connect to larger
themes in our society today?
How would you have responded to Emerald’s self-centered
behavior if you were her friend?
TH ANK YO U