Ageism and Misogyny
In “Dark Roots,” the protagonist’s internal struggle over dating Paul, a man 13 years her junior, illustrates the deep influence that ageism and misogyny can have on women and ultimately shows that self-acceptance comes from within. From the very beginning of the story, Kennedy shows the protagonist’s obsession with her own aging process; at her gynecologist appointment, she reminisces about her younger days with her “flat stomach that effortlessly stayed that way.” The…
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Beauty Standards and Self-Image
The central conflict of “Dark Roots” is the protagonist’s struggle with her self-image, demonstrating the damage that beauty standards—or a society’s expectations about what is considered “beautiful”—can inflict on one’s psyche and on one’s interpersonal relationships. Throughout the story, the protagonist obsesses over her body, hair, and skin, eventually changing her physical appearance in order to become more desirable to her lover, Paul. It is significant, however, that this impetus to change does…
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The Role of Honesty in Relationships
In “Dark Roots,” Kennedy uses the problem of honesty between the protagonist and Paul to show the importance of authenticity in relationships. The central relationship of the story is built on a foundation of dishonesty and distance, both between the two characters and within the protagonist’s own self. The protagonist denies her desire for children, hiding that desire from Paul and denying its importance to herself. It is significant that one of the first scenes…
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