This post is part of my poetry analysis on Robert Lowell's Memories of West Street and Lepke, the poem and original post can be found at: http://robertlowellandco.blogspot.com/2009/05/like-arrr-this-poems-about-like-jail.html
Juxtaposition is the act of putting two contrasting words, phrases, characters or ideas together in the aim of making a contrast. Lowell does this by juxtaposing himself against a common criminal (“A Negro boy with curlicues of marijuana in his hair”) to accent how by being a conscientious objector (C.O) had brought him down to the level of a common criminal and the fact that this is what he wanted, casting away the easy life he once had.
In fact the entire poem juxtaposes his life now with his life in prison, aided by the melancholy, wistful air and his musing which seems to scream ‘what if?’. He mentions that the entire exercise yard in prison was only as large as his school soccer court and how disrespected he is in jail compared to the respect he had in his former life and his life after prison.
He emphasised this contrast by adding several other juxtapositions in the poem. The line “I yammered metaphysics” does not accurately portray prison life at all but that is where he is. That line also serves a secondary function; it tells the reader that Lowell feels he has an equal companion in prison that he can ‘yammer’ with. He also juxtaposes Ambramowitz (“Fly weight pacifist”) with the ‘Hollywood pimps’ Bioff and Brown (“Hairy, muscular, suburban”). Czar Lepke’s lobotomized state is contrasted against his former power when Lowell mentions the special items in his cell. The electric chair is also described as an escape for Czar (“Hanging like an oasis in his air”). These juxtapositions are made even more obvious by the rhythmic changes in the poem.
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This paragraph in the analysis is used to point out the frequent use of juxtapostion in the poem. It is important to point out (in an analysis) a particular technique if it is used numerous times throughout the poem and if it alters it's effectiveness. Once again, backing up your opinion with evidence in the form of direct quotations is invaluable and if the technique is somewhat obscure it is best to explain it. Finally, I have again used my last sentance as a link to my next paragraph.
I discovered this gem this morning in my copy of "Life Studies."
ReplyDeleteIt's really quite beautiful, second only to my favourite "Waking in the Blue."
It begs the question why he wants to juxtapose himself against a world and reality he does not belong to. Yet again, he does this in Waking in the Blue - consciously contrasting his values and mentality against those of others. Even in "the house for the 'mentally ill'", Lowell recognises that he doesn't necessarily fit in. Same in West Street and Lepke, as you pointed out - and we have to ask, why?
Is it because Lowell wanted to experience something outside of his elitism? That these 'commonalities' would better enable him to establish himself as a groundbreaking poet in the field of confessional poetry? Simply because he wanted adventure?
I wonder if anyone is ever going to read this.
I read it. :)
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