Inside Joke

You're Ugly, Too by Lorrie Moore is a story that receives its title from an element of the story itself.  In this case, the title comes from a joke that the main character, Zoe, says during the story.  It's about a guy who goes to a doctor and is told he has six weeks to live. When he asks for a second opinion, he says "you're ugly too".  "She liked that joke.  She though it terribly, terribly funny  (p360)."  I think the use of this joke as the title points out that it has special significance in the story.  It is ironic, as the joke refers about a person given a negative diagnosis by a doctor, and Zoe herself is suffering from a growth in her abdomen and waiting on a diagnosis.  The joke also points to her disbelief in love.  Its blatant statement of ugliness is another factor she can relate to, as she has had relationship problems in the past and is not a beautiful woman.  To put it simply, I think the joke appeals to Zoe and her sarcastic sense of humor because it relates to her life.  The joke is about a person in a sad position being further insulted, a situation which describes the entire life of Zoe.