On The Subway Sharon Olds Summary

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Opposite Side of the Tracks
In the poem “On the Subway”, Sharon Olds explores the perspective of a white woman throughout the woman's trip on a subway seated across a black male. In the poem, several insights are addressed by the woman. Diction, imagery, and metaphors are used to bring to life the thought process of the woman.
Sharon highlights the contrasts between the boy and the woman in regards to their appearances and their place in society in the woman's vids. The main differences were seen using opposing colors: black and white to frame a theme of light and darkness. “We are stuck on opposite sides of the car, a couple of molecules stuck in a rod of light rapidly moving through darkness.” (4-6). The use of light and dark are an alternative …show more content…

For example, “...the way he absorbs the murderous beams of the nation's heart.” (25). The word “murderous” is extreme and refers to the negative actions inflicted by Americans even as far back as when slavery was legal. The woman also seems to realize that without any intentions, it is natural for people to act this way towards black people. “And he is black, and I am white, and without meaning or trying to I must profit from his darkness,” (21-23). The woman examines this mindset and comes to the conclusion that is actually how society is set up. It appears that profiting off of minorities is considered normal. “The rod of his soul that at birth was dark fluid and rich as the heart of a seedling ready to thrust up into any available light.” (33 - 35). This suggests that the boy was born into this predicament and despite having the ability to progress and “grow” like a seedling, he's suppressed as there is no light to allow freedom.
Overall, the woman has had many insights as she compared herself to the boy that she sat across from. Born of two different races, their lives were bound to a certain track that is hard to move out of as it is imprinted into

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