Milly is not, in fact, ugly, but she might as well be. She has a pretty face, which is the same thing as ugly when a woman is fat. In the complex calculus between men and women, Milly understands that fat is always ugly and that ugly and skinny makes a woman eminently more desirable than fat and any combination such as beautiful, charming, intelligent, or kind. Milly is all those things. She knows it doesn't matter.
Milly possesses physical beauty, yet she struggles with her self-image due to her weight. This juxtaposition highlights a societal belief where a woman's attractiveness is diminished by her size, regardless of her other qualities. In her mind, being fat overshadows any charm, intelligence, or kindness she may have, suggesting an ingrained bias that equates thinness with desirability.
The narrative explores the harsh realities of how women are often valued in terms of their appearance, particularly the stigma associated with being overweight. Milly's recognition of this unfair standard points to a deeper commentary on gender dynamics and the pressures placed upon women to conform to narrow ideals of beauty. Despite her awareness of her own worth, Milly feels trapped by these societal expectations.
