english composition lll project 2

Running head: POETRY ANALYSIS 1

POETRY ANALYSIS 3

“This is just to say”     

Estrella Gonzalez

South University

ENG 1300 Composition lll/Literature

Analysis of the Poem “This is just to say”     

The author has chosen a simple and very clear title. William Carlos has chosen the simplest and clear title that speaks volume about the poem. Does it sound actually like a confession by an individual who took the plums? Or rather is it an apology by the perpetrator of the mistake of unlawfully eating the plums that were kept for breakfast by the owner? Somewhat it sounds apologetic for a misfortune committed by the speaker! The tone indicates signs of apology by the speaker who seeks to be pardoned by the owner of the plums. Perhaps the poem is imagery as well! Could it be the poet has some hidden meaning to the use of plum fruits? Actually William Carlos plays with his words carefully to convey a weighty matter in a simpler manner. Comment by Joseph: What author? Don’t assume the reader already knows your topic. Comment by Joseph: Don’t refer to writers by their first names. Comment by Joseph: Is this really an “unlawful” act? Comment by Joseph: Avoid exclamation points in formal writing. Comment by Joseph: Your introduction should end with your thesis, a strong statement of the idea you will be supporting and defending throughout the piece.

This is just to say has a lot of weighty content in it than one can imagine it to have. Full of imagery, symbolism and satire, the poem presents the moral decay in our society in a more polished language. Comment by Joseph: Is there really that much going on in this simple poem?

The poem is depicted from a home set up, perhaps in the kitchen. The author opens up the poem by clearly telling the audience what has happened thereby removing any form of confusion from the onset. The author uses imagery of the plum fruit and an individual who has bumped onto the plums that are safely kept for some specific duty and then proceeds to eat them without any permission from the owner. Here, William Carlos portrays the filth in our society and how immoral the society has become to the extent that people have the guts to commit adultery with one’s own wife and still tell him on the face that it was accidental. William uses imagery of a plum fruit to represent a matrimonial wife whom someone else has confused and went to bed with without the knowledge of the husband (Spacey, A2016).

Actually, Ms. Carlos uses the imagery of the forbidden fruit at the heart of the Garden of Eden to convey how the fabrics of societal morals have been derailed and watered down. The allusion of the forbidden fruit brings into play the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. Here the poet shows how man becomes a victim of mistakes and only remembers to seek god’s vindication after having committed the crime. The speaker represents the human beings who have gone contrary to the laws that they were given by the master. However, just like indicated in the bible, after falling short of glory the sinners should turn to God the Almighty to seek for forgiveness (Walker, 2017). William actually portrays an individual who is remorseful and seeks for forgiveness from his master after committing a mistake. Further, still on the biblical perspective and teaching, the poem brings to light the fact that covetousness leads people into temptations. Further, it has a moral lesson in it that everyone who becomes a victim of temptations of covetousness should not shy away but should boldly seek for forgiveness and vindication from the offended party. He teaches in the poem that our actions after falling can either absolve us or betray us for ever. Comment by Joseph: This is a male poet.

Just as it had been highlighted in the thesis statement that the poem is all about the societal morals and taboos, Carlos uses the imagery of plums and icebox to set some sad tune. The fruits are used symbolically here to represent some good idea, prospect plan or even human being. The icebox brings the image of a casket. Here, the author presents to the contemporary world that some good ideas and plans may be thwarted by jealous individuals before they are ripe for consumption or in other words before they materialize. The plums being eaten before the rightful time for which they were kept therefore represent premature death of an object, idea or a person (Walker, 2017). Carlos also uses satire in conveying his message to the audience! He presents a man who, knowingly, eats his fellow’s fruits without permission and then proceeds to seek for forgiveness. For instance, the offender seeks for forgiveness yet at the same time refers to the plums to have been cold. The overriding themes in the poem are domestic and social issues, temptations and relationships. The theme of domestic issues comes out clearly even from the setting itself. The poem is set at home in the kitchen and issues of food that was kept being discussed. The theme of temptation is brought to light by the speaker who confesses that he took the plums from the icebox where they were kept. Here the speaker points out that he was attracted by the sweetness of the plums into committing the vice. Finally relationship is also highlighted where the offender seeks for forgiveness from the offended to ensure that good relationship is maintained between the two (Leishman, 2017).

Conclusion Comment by Joseph: Do not divide the paper into fragments with headings. Use transitions to move smoothly from one point to the next in a unified essay.

In the poem this is just to say the author represents the various vices that are commonly experienced in the contemporary society as well as their causes. The author uses symbolism and imagery to represent her thoughts and feelings on how people behave in the community. The poem talks saliently and lucidly on social relationship, especially marriage and portrays it as sacred. The plums represent virgins that are supposed to remain so until when they get married. Also, the poem talks about the danger of covetousness and temptations. However, the poet illustrates that the action taken after falling can make or break an individual. Comment by Joseph: There are a lot of interesting ideas here, Estrella, but there is no sense of focus or organization. The paper lacks a thesis—a strong central idea which is supported from the start of the paper to the end. In the absence of this, you seem to be moving from idea to idea at random.

References

Leishman, R., (2017). William Carlos Williams' plums in the icebox poem somehow became a meme, and it's getting out of control. Hello giggles Comment by Joseph: Note that the assignment here specifically tells you not to use outside sources.

Spacey, A. (2016). Analysis of the poem "this is just to say" by william carlos williams. Owlcations

Walker, D., (2017). An analysis of this is just to say by william carlos. Bulb