The Uglies Part 1

So far I really do like this book.  I think it is really interesting that our society is classified as the "Rusties."  I thought it might be possible to connect this with the effects of technology on society.  Basically, I think the book is implying that if societies do not continue to improve and develop and better with technology, so the Rusties did not improve and develop with technology, which is why the Shay and Tally visit the ruins of the Rusties.  There may also be a connection between technology and freedom of expression and obsession with appearances.  The increase in technology capabilities, such as plastic surgery, lead to the obsession of appearances and basically this world and separation of the Uglies and Pretties.  This obsession has lead to the decrease in freedom of expression.  All the Pretties look very similar, and the teens have no say in what they look like.  Tally reveals all this when she is trying to convince Shay to make what she could possibly look like after the surgery when all Shay wants to do is go hoverboarding.  The doctors that perform the surgery decide what look each teen gets.  The authorities, whoever they are, do their best to keep these two worlds separate.  The Pretties are not supposed to interact with the Uglies, especially not in person.  The Uglies are punished if they are found in the Pretties Town.  The decline of freedom of expression leads to the decline of personal rights.  The Pretties basically live the care-free, no responsibilities, party life, while the Uglies have more strict schedules and live in a much more dull world.  The Uglies actually have responsibilities and work that they have to do.  They are punished and discriminated against for not being pretty, even though they cannot be pretty until a certain age.