Beauty Is Subjective

Don Quixote had once stated, "Like beauty, my friend, ‘tis in the eye of the beholder” (Wasserman 21). This quote explains that beauty is not created on its own, instead it is made through those who are observing. This concept is portrayed in "Man of La Mancha", the play Don Quixote is in, in many ways. For example, Don Quixote sees beyond Aldonza's physical attributes and finds her beauty through her mind and character. While other men seemed to only be interested in her body and that was the only beauty they could see. However, beauty is not only seen in people but also places. It is one's own imagination and values that determines what they find beautiful. Since everyone has a different mind and diverse values, beauty becomes subjective. For example, Don Quixote has a wild imagination where he does not recognize things the way others do. While Sancho had a more limited imagination and a completely different perspective. Therefore, Don Quixote saw that he was taking a great highway to glory. Sancho, on the other hand, saw that they were taking the road to El Toboso where chickens are sold for a cheap price.  In addition, Don Quixote was capable of seeing a windmill as a ferocious giant. As Sancho continued to perceive it as a regular windmill. 

Fortunately, this concept is not only applicable in the play but also in real life. As Confucius had once stated, "Everything has beauty but not everyone sees it."  All is beautiful no matter what it may seem to look like to you. What you find to be ugly I may find meaningful and beautiful. Therefore, no one should be ashamed of what they find admiring. Unfortunately, Society now, under the influence of social media, has induced the idea that some things should be found ugly to all while other aspects must be beautiful to everyone. Moreover, social media has become one of the most toxic places created. This is because for many years it has brainwashed many people to believe that certain attributes should be frowned upon. As an example, for the longest if you are not muscular or thin you can not and should not be perceived as beautiful. As a result, many were influenced into forcibly changing the way they dress, look, and act in order to "fit in". However, beauty will always remain subjective. Even though societal beauty standards may seem to blind everyone's capability of having a unique outlook on beauty, everyone has their own distinctive point of view on it. After all, social media did not specifically change what we found beautiful. Instead, it changed what we thought about others' viewpoints on beauty.