The poets of Vultures and Two Scavengers in a Truck, Two Beautiful People in a Mercedes Essay Example for Free

The poets of Vultures and Two Scavengers in a Truck, Two Beautiful People in a Mercedes Essay In these two poems, Achebe and Ferlinghetti question human nature and the way we think of it as virtuous and moral. In Vultures Achebe argues that evil is innate in humans and is very much more widespread than the tiny good that is in our nature. He uses two vultures and the Commandant of a Nazi Death Camp to powerfully describe evil in nature, but contrasts this with love contained in it. Ferlinghetti, however, also links cruelty to modern society, and further argues that this cruelty, causing the rift between people, is present in even a free society such as Americas. He focuses on one instant of time where two pairs of people of totally different classes are connected by the whole fabrication of society, of injustice and inequality, while stopping next to each other at a red light. Although the poems are similar in the issues that they tackle, it is apparent that the poets argue them in different ways. In this essay I shall explore the, often differing, ways in which the poets discuss these issues. In Vultures, Achebe starts the poem in a dull and deathly mood to outline the grim and evil atmosphere of his poem. This is interpreted by the reader to imply that evil is present everywhere, as the place that the poem is set in is full of evil. In the greynessa vulture perching high on broken bone of a dead tree These lines set the scene for the rest of the poem, and because they so inherently remind the reader of death, the reader immediately feels the poem will be grim. This has been used because of this, as Achebe, in his argument, wants to remind us that evil is ever-present. As death brings about the feeling of evil and suffering, these opening lines are effective at introducing and outlining the argument. Broken bone being used to describe the branches of the tree is particularly effective, because it reminds the reader of pain and suffering. The dead tree is also used, and as these two describe where the vulture is perching, this further associates the vulture with death, adding to the fact that it is a vulture and so feeds on rotting carcasses. The dullness is brought about by the word greyness. This suggests that the dawn is not beautiful or colourful, but is bland and unemotional. The colour grey makes the reader imagine a scene which is almost akin to a black and white photograph of a scene a dull, slow atmosphere that is reminiscent of death. The atmosphere of the poem, set in the beginning, therefore, outlines the theme of evil that is in this poem. The whole context of the poem is symbolising evil, and this overall suggests that evil is ever-present. This is part of Achebes argument. Ferlinghetti, however, starts the poem differently. The start of Two Scavengers in a Truck, Two Beautiful People in a Mercedes (hereafter to be referred to as Two Scavengers) is more upbeat and optimistic. This is ironical, and therefore implies that the happiness in society is not true. At the stoplight waiting for the light nine a.m. downtown San Francisco At the beginning, a relaxed and happy atmosphere is created by Ferlinghetti. The word downtown creates a relaxed atmosphere. This is made even more so because waiting for the light is an ordinary thing to do. However, this is deeply ironical, because the title of the poem is more serious and shows clear and immediate contrasts Scavengers are far away from Beautiful People and a Truck is very different and much less luxurious than a Mercedes. The use of Scavengers in the title also implies that the poem is serious. Therefore the reader, having read the title before the beginning of the poem, is meant to see this, and see that this happiness is unreal. Ferlinghetti, by doing this, suggests that although some wealthier people in the society have nothing to worry about, many people are unhappy and are succumbed, just as observers are, that life in his society is wonderful and easy. By letting the reader deduce this, Ferlinghetti makes his argument more personal, and includes the reader as the observer of his society. This integrates him/her more into the poem, thus making the introduction to his argument about inequality and cruelty more effective. Ferlinghetti then goes on to describe the ease of the lifestyle of the wealthier couple, contrasting it with the intense hard work of the garbage men. This shows that there are always two sides, and for the people that enjoy life many people suffer, and the suffering always exists. The young blond woman so casually coifed on the way to his architects office And the two scavengers up since four a.m. grungy from their route The words used to describe the wealthier couple suggest that they are much more relaxed and that life is easier for them. Casually coifed especially suggests that the woman is relaxed. The alliteration is used so that the phrase flows easily. This represents the life of the wealthy couple it is described to be easy and pleasant. However, this is in total contrast to the garbage men. The fact that they have been up since four a.m. suggests that their work is hard and physically demanding as few jobs require the workers to wake up at 4 a.m. Grungy also suggests that their work is demanding but also dirty. These, overall, show how the garbage men suffer so much but do not get rewarded nearly as much as man in the wealthy couple, who is on the way to his architects office. The word his suggests that he is the boss and is in control. This contrasts to the garbage men, who are described as scavengers. As scavengers feed off the leftovers and detritus of other animals, this suggests that these garbage men only have what other people leave behind and kick down to them. These contrasts clearly show how Ferlinghetti argues that society is cruel, and especially to the people that work so hard for it. Cruelty is omnipresent. Achebe also uses contrasts to show contrasts in human nature. Where Ferlinghetti links theses to society, Achebe links these contrasts to basic natural instincts. In Vultures there are contrasts between love and evil. Although the mating vultures perform actions which are disgusting and vile, they still show love and care for each other. feathers inclined affectionately to hers. Yesterday they picked The eyes of a swollen corpse The statement of love is mentioned before the detailed descriptions of the actions of the vultures. This implies that their love takes precedence, and that it is what the vultures themselves are thinking about rather than what they did to the carcass. The eating of the carcass is described explicitly and in full detail by Achebe. By this he is showing the disgusting horrid behaviour and instincts of the vultures. He describes how the picked the eyes of a swollen corpse. This is particularly powerful as the verb picking does not bear any resemblance to humans eating. This phrase (picking the eyes) makes the reader think of cruel and inhumane forms of torture, and therefore makes this image even more disturbing, even though the animal is dead. Furthermore, animals dead bodies are usually referred to as carcasses, however, by using corpse Achebe has related this more to humans further depicting the cruel and horrible nature of the vultures, making it more personal and even more disgusting to the reader. By directly contrasting the image of love and affection to one of the most repulsive sights imaginable, Achebe gives one point of his argument, that in all evil there is love. Contrarily, though, by using powerful imagery, it is evident that the nature of the vultures will not be forgotten by the reader, and it will not be merely overridden by their love. After that, however, Vultures describes cruelty in humans, which is more intense, as vultures always feed on carcasses. Achebe uses a figure that is almost synonymous with evil the Commandant at a Nazi Death Camp to show this contrast between love and evil. However, this also shows more clearly how much more evil there is than love. Thus the Commandant at Belsen Camp going home for the day with fumes of human roast clinging rebelliouslyand pick up a chocolate for his tender offspring The image used is just as repulsive as that of the vultures. The word roast makes the reader think of food, and this especially makes the image repulsive, as the reader is shocked at how this evil figure cam live with this. It does make the reader think of cannibalistic behaviour, as roast is used after many other meats. Because human roast is used the reader would think it is ordinary for it to be called this and is therefore furthermore horrified. Tender offspring suggests that they are just meat, like the people that were killed by the Commandant. The word tender in this context is furthermore repulsive, because it is used after human roast and makes the reader imagine it is being used in this context. However, as offspring is used to describe the children of animals, this is also a reference back to the vultures. This suggests that even a humans behaviour is animalistic and it is in his nature, even though he may be seen as evil. Most readers would find that the Commandant at Belsen is more evil than the vultures, as vultures always feed off carcasses. However, this link back to animals, with offspring makes the reader question whether all creation is purely evil, regardless of what species there are and how much love they have for something else. This further implies that evil is always predominant over other characteristics such as love. This is another one of Achebes points in his argument that suggests that human nature, and the nature of all creation, is predominantly built upon cruelty. With this contrast, showing a loving family man, Achebe indirectly asks the reader whether they think his evil is redeemable, and therefore if they would forgive the Commandant at Belsen because of his love for his child(ren). Because of the obvious answer of no, it makes the reader feel that there is a lot more evil in him than good, and this can be said for the entire world. This poem, and especially lines 30-40, also reflects the state of affairs within the world. As it implies that Nazism is synonymous with evil, it gives Nazism a real place in literature. Therefore the mention of Nazism is in context with this poem, and Achebe has carefully chosen to include this to express the horrors of the Nazi regime. This is a point for his argument in this poem, but also a tribute to (the victims of) Nazism. It makes the evil of it have an eternal place, which will not be forgotten. This is an example of which literature is affected by affairs in the real world. It therefore furthermore makes the reader agree with Achebes argument, as it is supported by major events in the real world. In Two Scavengers, there is also a reference to death and sacrifice. One of the garbage men is compared to Quasimodo, from the Hunchback of Notre Dame, also because of his hunched back. and hunched back looking down like some gargoyle Quasimodo In these lines, the older garbage man is compared to Quasimodo, as he has a hunched back. However there is also another meaning to this at a deeper level. Quasimodo sacrificed himself to save the beautiful image of Paris. The reference to Quasimodo here also therefore suggests that these garbage men are sacrificing themselves in order to preserve the beautiful image of America that they all aspire to be in, but cannot. The fact that they are watching the couple is highlighted by the fact that he is looking down. The comparison to Quasimodo suggests the moral superiority of the garbage men, as they are facing the cruelty of society that is rarely reported and that people in general do not care about, unless they are suffering themselves. This is similar to Quasimodo. Also, the fact that he is also compared to a gargoyle suggests that these people are also the one that care for society, working physically harder and not getting rewarded as much as the people whom they aspire to be. The watching over them is not only a direct reference to the height difference between the truck and the Mercedes, however, and this suggests that they are part of the people looking after the society, integral to it. Because of this, as they are suffering, and being cruelly and unequally treated, Ferlinghetti argues that these morally wrong values are not just present, but a large integral part of the whole society. At the end of their poems, both poets conclude with statements that show cruelty is always going to be part of humans and society. Vultures end with an open conclusion which asks the reader to decide, however it is clear that one conclusion is stronger. Praise bounteousthat grants even an ogre a tiny glow-worm tenderness encapsulated in icy caverns of a cruel heart or else despair for in the very germ of that kindred love is lodged the perpetuity of evil. After presenting his argument, Achebe gives the reader a choice to be glad and praise bounteous the love that does exist. However, the first statement shows that love is mostly tiny and encapsulated in icy caverns. This is a particularly powerful phrase because it suggests that love is only small and is surrounded by all of the evil in the world. However, the poem does give the reader a choice, and the other statement is that all of humanity should be concerned and frightened at how the relatively small love in the world is nothing in the face of the infinite evil in human nature. In the very germ means in the smallest seed, and in the heart of. This implies that all of love is just a small part of evil which makes up most of the world. The word perpetuity, which is also used in science and mathematics emphasises the effect that evil is constant and never ends. Overall, in this poem, the second conclusion is by far the stronger, as more powerful words like kindred (close to the blood, essential). It is evident that Achebe wants us to leave the poem knowing that even if people have love in their hearts, they cannot stop committing evil. We must despair at the fact that our world is filled with so much evil and cruelty, and how in human nature the love that exists is overwhelmed by the evil within. The very fact that we should be scared of the never-ending evil shows how stronger the second statement is. In Two Scavengers, Ferlinghetti ends by mocking the American dream, and by using his previous link of cruelty to society, using these examples, he finishes by showing the variation in society. as if they were watching some odorless TV ad in which everything is always possible as if anything at all were possible between them across the small gulf in the high seas of this democracy The American dream is what the American society aspires of its citizens. According to the constitution, Any American can become president. However, Ferlinghetti concludes his argument strongly disagreeing with this statement, and persuades the reader to do the same. The reference to the odourless TV ad shows how much advertising has affected the American people, that they were thinking like the advertisement in their real lives. The word odourless suggests that it is fake, plastic. This is the American dream. The TV ad is an illusion from reality. This directly relates how the American dream is just an illusion. Nothing is odourless. Also Ferlinghetti has used irony for entertainment to engage the reader further as the garbage mens jobs are the direct opposite of odourless. The line after in the extract is more powerful than the first, and shows how the American dream is really a dream. It is sarcastic as if anything at all were possible suggests that they did, for that instant, go into the illusion that it was possible to become what they aspired to be. However Ferlinghetti mocks this and therefore highly criticizes the American dream and the motives of the American Constitution it was lying to the people. The small gulf is also a pun, as it means the physical distance between the four people, but also the large gap in class and wealth between the two pairs of people a gulf is geographically very large. The high seas suggests that it is happening everywhere, as the oceans are very large and cover many areas. This further strengthens the effect of the class gap and also fits in with the entertaining line the small gulf. The last line is also highly critical, as it asks why people are not equal if they are meant to be in the democracy. This line also refers to this as being a problem across the whole of America and the whole society, which further strengthens the argument that all the people are not equal. It strongly and ironically suggests that the democracy is unfair and unjust. These are related to cruelty, as the people of America, Ferlinghetti believes, are being treated cruelly, being wrongly told, and believing that they are all equal, when Ferlinghetti sees clearly that they are not. People are told that they are free in a democracy, but Ferlinghetti, in this poem, argues that this is far from the case. Ferlinghetti and Achebe explore issues within their cultures, and link them to different examples. However, analytically, while their use of language and techniques may not be similar, it must not be forgotten that these poems remind us, and depict, the worst and most scarring side of Mans character, and remind us how misguided and flawed our judgements on ourselves can be. What we must learn from them is that we cannot think ourselves above creation if we show the same repulsive habits as vultures, however slight these may be. Ferlinghetti and Achebe argue that unless we totally conquer the evil and cruelty so centrally bound within us and change the society we have built around them, we cannot call ourselves more than any other being.