Beauty, Obsession, and Societal Norms in Max Beerbohm's Zuleika Dobson IMAD MESSAOUDI 12th Grade

"Zuleika Dobson", written by Max Beerbohm in 1911, is a satirical novel that explores the theme of beauty and its power to control those around it. The novel's protagonist, Zuleika, is a stunningly beautiful woman who arrives at Oxford University and quickly captivates the hearts and minds of the entire student body. Her beauty proves to be both a blessing and a curse as it leads to the downfall of many of the young men in the novel.

The novel begins with Zuleika's arrival at Oxford, where she is immediately noticed by the students for her striking beauty. The narrator, Rex, describes Zuleika's arrival at Oxford, saying that "She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen" (Chapter 1, Page 3). She becomes the center of attention and the object of desire for many of the young men at the university. Beerbohm uses Zuleika's beauty as a tool to satirize the superficiality of the upper class in Edwardian society. He shows how the young men's infatuation with Zuleika is driven by their shallow desire for physical beauty rather than any deeper connection or understanding.

As the novel progresses, Beerbohm explores the destructive power of beauty through the characters of the young men who are captivated by Zuleika. One by one, they...