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Poetry Similarities (Nature and the Environment (Aunt Julia ("She was…
Poetry Similarities
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Suffering
Assisi
"The dwarf with his hands on backwards sat, slumped like a half-filled sack on tiny twisted legs from which sawdust might run"
The extreme suffering and pitiable condition of the dwarf tries to force us to recognise that society has become blind and apathetic to the suffering of others. They can appreciate art but not a fellow human in need of compassion.
Hotel Room
"the broken bones, the harsh screaming from coldwater flats, the blood glazed on sidewalks."
Many people are now in terrible suffering due to being left behind by society in order for the rest of society to achieve progress.
Brooklyn Cop
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Society has pushed people into becoming criminals and are now suffering from the police for what society forced them to do.
Visiting Hour
"carrying their burden of so much pain, so many deaths, their eyes still clear after so many farewells"
The repetition of the word 'so' stresses the overwhelming amount of suffering that these nurses have to deal with on a day to day basis. The addition of the phrase "still clear" shows that this is unlike MacCaig who does not have the strength that these nurses to and wouldn't be able to cope with the same things that they do.
Basking Shark
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MacCaig now views humanity as the monster due to all the suffering that we cause through war, poverty and greed.
Loss
Assisi
"the three tiers of churches built in honour of St Francis, brother of the poor, talker with birds
The church has lost the true message of St Francis by building such a grand building for a man who preached simple living, and by not helping the poor which directly opposes what St Francis did.
Visiting Hour
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He has lost connection with her as their grief, pain and sadness has seperated them.
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Aunt Julia
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The death of Aunt Julia represents the loss of a distinct Scottish heritage, language and culture that is at serious risk of completely disappearing from modern society.
Hotel Room
"police cars and ambulances racing to the broken bones, the harsh screaming from coldwater flats, the blood glazed on sidewalks."
Technological advancements haven't helped everyone as people are still living in terrible poverty and facing lots of violence. They have been left behind and the place for humans have been lost in the race for societal progress.
Brooklyn Cop
""See you, babe" he said to his wife, he hoped it, he truly hoped it."
The nature of the cop's job means that there is a high risk of the loss of his life. Any day he might not return home.
Wealth Classes
Brooklyn Cop
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MacCaig makes the point that society forces certain groups of people to be criminals, like those in poverty or minorities, and then judges them harshly. The use of the word 'victims' suggests that perhaps the people that the cop arrests are innocent or undeserving of his violence.
Assisi
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This quote references to the Priest who simply ignores the beggar on the steps of the church. We are instantly shown two very extreme opposites, a beggar and a church which would have gold, money, power and influence. The quote is a biblical reference and the priest seems in awe of the depiction of the teachings than actually practicing them himself and helping the beggar. This show how hypocritical the church can be, just like the unwilling rich in 'Hotel Room' who wanted to defeat evil by building 'light' in the form of skyscrapers etc, instead of actually helping the people in the dark of the city which would have really made a difference.
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Money, influence and power doesn't always go hand in hand with wisdom and knowledge
Hotel Room
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Technological advancements haven't helped everyone as people are still living in terrible poverty. They have been left behind.
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Violence has become a permanent thing in NYC and it's only those with the most money who can escape it and keep themselves safe. For many people in poverty, it's a fight for survival.
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Religion
Hotel Room
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Midnight represents evil, light from windows (crosses) keeps it at bay. MacCaig is saying that people think that they can stop evil through religion but ultimately they can't.
Could reference crusades and the idea that the West should spread it's views to 'uncivilized' societies. "Uncivilised Darkness"
Assisi
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Very grand church compared to beggar on church steps shows how hypocritical the church was at this time. And the irony of how the church was there to represent a man who dedicated himself to the poor yet this 'Temple' doesn't help the beggar
Violence
Brooklyn Cop
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References places that sound dangerous or 'dark'. The "Wham" in "Whamburger" shows that it could be a dangerous placed to it having the sound of a punch in the name. This references to the 'Darker side of NYC' just like in 'Hotel Room'.
Hotel Room
"police cars and ambulances racing to the broken bones, the harsh screaming from coldwater flats, the blood glazed on sidewalks."
Violence has existed all throughout history and is still happening today. MacCaig suggests that technological progress hasn't resulted in societal civility. Instead, the materialist, progress-driven culture is creating suffering and poverty or, at least, ignoring it.
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Nothing can stop or hold back this evil, darkness and violence. Evil will always be apart of modern life.