Huzij 1Lori HuzijMay 16, 2014Ms. DaoustENG4Utheme analysis: UgliesIn the book Uglies by Scott Westerfeld, the story focuses on the theme of friendship and how it is necessary for happiness. Tally Youngblood is the central character whose tricks become much more serious when her intense relationships land her in a series of problems. Westerfeld allows his audience to truly connect with his story by using various elements involving setting, symbolism, and character relationships. Westerfeld also emphasizes beauty and appearance, how they relate to friendship, and how they make people happy. A New York Times writer, James Hynes, describes what dystopian literature is; “It reflects the experience of venturing from the relative safety of childhood into the harsher realities of adult life. The psychological basis of the story is the teenager's shock when he learns that part of what he is taught is not true, that his parents are imperfect human beings and that the world is not not built for its benefit. This relates to the theme of friendship because the characters in the book turn to their friendships when everything they have known seems to be a lie. Context is an important aspect that Westerfeld focuses on, using descriptive language to really paint a picture of friendship. unusual world they live in and the very significant differences between Ugly and New Pretty Towns. Uglies takes place in a society where everyone is obsessed with beauty, and until the character receives his surgery to become pretty, he is nothing. Westerfeld is trying to convey that it is important for the characters to bond and establish relationships with each other in order to stay sane in this unusual world they live in....... middle of paper...... David. “He always had that look in his eyes, that pretty look. Maybe he really could see past her horrible face. Maybe what was inside her mattered to him more than anything else. (279) By developing this relationship with David, it not only made Tally extremely happy; but she is able to understand the true meaning of what it means to be beautiful. Overall, Scott Westerfeld did a great job creating a theme about friendship and how it is necessary for happiness in his book Uglies. Throughout the book, the audience is able to see how the characters' opinions and actions change based on the friendships they had at the time. By using setting and atmospheric devices, various elements of symbolism, establishing intense relationships between characters, and tying it all to an inspiring message about beauty, Westerfeld allows his audience to truly connect with his story..