Describe the atmosphere of the beauty parlor in "The Petrified Man." How does Leota treat her clients? How does it seem to be a torture chamber as well as a beauty parlor? What does Welty seem to be saying about concepts of beauty?

The atmosphere is the beauty shop is light-hearted and congenial. Gossip and beauty rule the day.

From the text (atmosphere)

Hidden in this den of curhg fluid and henna packs, separated by a lavender swing door from the other customers, who were being gratified in other booths, she could give her curiosity its freedom.

Torture Chamber:

’Mrs. Pike is this lady horn New Orleans,’ said Leota, putfing, and pressing into Mrs. Fletcher’s scalp with strong red-naded fingers.

She dashed the comb through the air, and paused dramatically as a cloud of Mrs. Fletcher’s hennaed hair floated out of the lavender teeth lie a small storm cloud.

‘Bet it was that last perm’nent you gave me that did it,’ Mrs. Fletcher said cruelly. ‘Remember you cooked me fourteen minutes.’

American Beauty:

One of the main themes in "Petrified Man" is the contrast between outer appearance and personality. For example, the women spend much of their time on beauty treatments such as permanents and make-up. However, their gossip reveals that they have rather ugly personalities: Leota finds pleasure in talking about the exhibits at a freak show, and Mrs. Fletcher, among other things, says that she does not want to have her child anymore after encountering the three-year-old Billy, who runs around in the beauty parlor. Moreover, it is interesting that the freak show is right next door, which leads to overlaps: the petrified man, wanted for rape, was not discovered at first because of the powder on his face, which is another example of make-up being used to cover up an ugly personality.