In the poem, “To be of use” Marge Piercy praises hard work and those who work hard. In the poem, it can be seen the persona’s admiration for what seems to be the working class people. In the poem the persona mentions multiple times their “love” (1) and their “want” (12) to be like those who are out every day working hard. Throughout the poems entirety the central theme seems to revolve around the persona’s love for those who are willing to dive into their work and work hard day in and day out. The persona shows that love by saying, “people I love” (1). The persona in the poem shows that appreciation for hard work by repeating the word love in various lines throughout the poem. Additionally, the poem carries another central theme or idea: the love for the working class. The persona in the poem expressed that they would prefer to be like those of the working class and “not parlor generals” (15) or “field deserters” (15). Field deserters and parlor generals in any context are not people who would fit into a category with the working class citizens. In fact, a field deserter is simply, a deserter. They do not show a love for their craft, they just drop …show more content…
One of the main usages of repetition was regarding the language about work. Frequently throughout the poem the persona references work. The persona often references their desire to be like the working class and how they praise those who work hard. Repetition is also used in the poem when referencing imagery. Imagery was commonly used in “To be of use”. In each stanza there is at least one line that shows imagery. Marge Piercy’s poem “To be of use” shows a praise for hard work and for individuals who work hard. All through the poem there is many instances that express that viewpoint. Piercy uses imagery, repetition, word choice, and other literary devices to express the central theme of the poem regarding hard work and the “love” for the working class
and that we should help those less fortunate than ourselves. In this I essay I have shown how successful the poet was in making me share this view by using his thoughtful and intense language, word-choice and imagery techniques.
The society of today’s world revolves around satisfaction, and as humans there is never a true feeling of satisfaction. In our lives it is no longer about satisfying ourselves but also satisfying the people we love the most. Throughout the poems; Blackberries by Yusef Komunyakaa, Singapore by Mary Oliver, and What Work Is by Philip Levine, lays a constant crave of satisfaction. The real issue is knowing that our soul-hunger for satisfaction is never truly met, at least from other people’s eyes. In each poem there comes a circumstance of when the narrator faces a time when questioning their whole idea of self-worth and satisfaction, caused by outside influences. These outside influences usually pity the narrator for having the jobs that they
The story “Clearing Paths To The Past” and the poem “To Be Of Us” both have a common theme. They both talk about people getting done what needs to be done. The man in the short story had an obligation. That obligation was to clear the sidewalk even if other people didn’t. He wanted to help the kids get to and from school without having to walk through snow to do so. He wanted to be like his grandfather and make other people happy.Just like the story the poem also talks about how Marge Piercy , the author, loved people who got the job done. She likes people who put work before themselves. She says “I love people best who jump to work head first.” She saying that she likes people who don’t complain about having to do it and just do it. That is
Since the character is illiterate, he has no ability to determine his true feelings for the loved one. Additionally, this use of repetitive words in the poem also shows the lack of diction by the character. When words are repeated, it typically tells someone that they are either confused or have a weak vocabulary. Since it is implied that the man had a small lexicon because of his illiteracy, the poem reveals his ideas in a simplistic and repetitive wording
Work is a word that one hears on a daily basis on multiple different levels; work out, work at school, go to work, work at home, work for change. Society today is made of people that work hard every moment of their day from sunrise to twilight, these workers work for food, housing, family, education, and transportation. Essentially in today’s world if one wants something they must work for it, gone are the days where handouts are common and charity is given freely. The question then arises, who speaks for these voiceless workers that are often working so hard they have no time to voice an opposition? The authors Levine and Baca speak very well for these workers and for society in general, their narrators speak of not only work but of the world
Another aspect that can be derived from this poem is Atwood’s father’s obvious intentions to give her an awareness of the many adversities life can obtain. He has made sure she leads a life that doesn’t result from a spoiled childhood. He made her attentive of a hard days work, which is probably one of the best things a father can teach his child. It is absolutely essential that parents in general teach their children the many hardships life may behold. This gives the child a better direction in means of future obligations.
Throughout this entire poem, there were many literary devices found, such as; figurative languages/rhetorical devices, reflective tone, and sound/structural devices. In the poem, the poet, Marge Piercy, makes the readers realize that hard work not merely obligation, but rather should offer a fulfilling reward for those who perform it to create something that will be of use. The title of the poem, “To Be of Use,” makes readers think that this poem is about hard work being a negative impact. In this case, it conveys an opposing connotation about the idea of work instead.
In the minds of most people, the words, "hard work" and "heavy labor" carry a negative connotation. What these words imply is not something that is generally welcomed with enthusiasm but is often accepted either by force or obligation. Marge Piercy's poem "To Be of Use" conveys an opposing connotation about the idea of work. The central theme of the poem is that satisfaction, gratification, and self-fulfillment can be attained by using one's capabilities to serve a functional purpose in life, for it is the opinion of the speaker that an idle existence has no value or significance because it is worthless, vain, futile, and pointless. Piercy uses figurative language, imagery, symbolism, description, and details to develop this theme throughout the poem. Piercy begins developing the theme in the first stanza by describing "The [type of] people [she loves] the best" (1). Piercy states that they "jump into work head first/without dallying in the shallows..." (2-3). With this imagery Piercy reveals that she admires individuals who are not afraid of work; rather, they tackle their jobs "head first/without dallying" ( ); in other words, they are not lazy and do not delay or procrastinate the completion of their duties. Piercy adds that the people she regards highly "... swim off with sure strokes almost out of sight" (4). With this image Piercy indicates that these adored individuals work with so much confidence and diligence that often they become so busy that their work puts distance between them and those with whom they associate or live. Further, Piercy declares that "They seem to become natives of that element, / ...
Each of Phillis Wheatley’s poems is crafted with a specific purpose in mind. Although her use of heroic couplets stays mostly standard, she does leave room for adaptations that offer some insight into her ultimate purpose. While many of her poems humble her own position, often it is indeed for a specific cause, usually to convey a point she could not have otherwise communicated without fear of chastisement. On the other hand, speaking on religious matters she seems to feel bold enough to elevate her own position to that of an authority figure, giving guidance and hope to those in need of it.
In her poem entitled “The Poet with His Face in His Hands,” Mary Oliver utilizes the voice of her work’s speaker to dismiss and belittle those poets who focus on their own misery in their writings. Although the poem models itself a scolding, Oliver wrote the work as a poem with the purpose of delivering an argument against the usage of depressing, personal subject matters for poetry. Oliver’s intention is to dissuade her fellow poets from promoting misery and personal mistakes in their works, and she accomplishes this task through her speaker’s diction and tone, the imagery, setting, and mood created within the content of the poem itself, and the incorporation of such persuasive structures as enjambment and juxtaposition to bolster the poem’s
These final words sum up her feeling of helplessness and emptiness. Her identity is destroyed in a way due to having children. We assume change is always positive and for the greater good but Harwood’s poem challenges that embedding change is negative as the woman has gained something but lost so much in return.
Fulfilling the roles of both mother and breadwinner creates an assortment of reactions for the narrator. In the poem’s opening lines, she commences her day in the harried role as a mother, and with “too much to do,” (2) expresses her struggle with balancing priorities. After saying goodbye to her children she rushes out the door, transitioning from both, one role to the next, as well as, one emotion to another. As the day continues, when reflecting on
In “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker, we hear a story from the viewpoint of Mama, an African American woman, about a visit from her daughter Dee. Mama, along with her other daughter Maggie, still lives poor in the Deep South while Dee has moved onto a more successful life. Mama and Maggie embrace their roots and heritage, while Dee wants to get as far away as possible. During her return, Dee draws her attention to the quilt. It is this quilt and the title of the piece that centers on the concept of what it means to integrate one’s culture into their everyday life.
The poem, “What Work Is” by Philip Levine is an intricate and thought-provoking selection. Levine uses a slightly confusing method of describing what work actually is. He gives the idea that work is very tedious, however necessary. It is miserable, however, it is a sacrifice that is essentially made by many, if not all able-bodied members of society. Many have to sacrifice going to a concert or a movie, but instead works jobs with hardly a manageable salary. This poem seems to have a focus on members of the lower-class or middle-class who live paycheck to paycheck and are unable to put money away for a future for their children or for a vacation and how difficult life can be made to be while living under this type of circumstance. Levine
The use of repetition within the poem draws attention to important themes associated with overcoming negative pressure. The repetition of the word “it” reduces the specificity of the poem, making it simply about a general battle with mental strength. This effective decision allows anyone to connect with the poem by inserting their unique personal struggles. To emphasize the amount of negativity that is present in the world, Guest repeats the phrase “there are thousands”. This type of repetition reinforces