Tuesday, April 24, 2012

book of the dead

Rukeyser's poem, The Book of Dead, contains some beautiful diction and references to the creation of modern america, and references the blood and sweat that was used to keep it together. I found it impersonal. though this might just be be. What i found most moving about Whitman's Lilacs... was that he introduced the personal emotions of turmoil and disappointment he felt at the death of lincoln and allowed us to relate.

Establishing motifs and elaborating on the mourning and gloom of death and those it affects, there was nothing force or implicit. Death is, and we must deal because we have no choice.

In Rukeysers poem, there's a hint of judgement and blame that I felt almost like fingerpointing because of the death of those that worked to establish our industrial society. She brings to light questions about society and construction and death and the values of life. People die because they're made to under certain circumstances and situations which can be easily averted if ppl weren't so greedy and selfish.

And I don't want to here that judgemental shit because me and whitman are mourning the death of our loved ones and we blame no one because shit happens.

Seriously, I feel like death is #death. Trending. Best friend passed away, a childhood friend passed away to heart failure, my gfs cat is dying and we just found her pet rat, trillion dead in her cage. Death happens. And we just have to deal.

1 comment:

  1. Haha I agree that death is death. Rukeyser DEFINITELY points fingers and blames others for the death of those miners. Who do you think she is blaming and how does that tie into the use of 'you,' 'i,' and 'they' throughout the poem? How does that differ from Whitman's use of 'you' and 'i' ? You mentioned that he is more personal with his own emotions.. do you think that his individuality has anything to do with his process of mourning?

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