Elizabeth Bishop adopts diverse
descriptions in order to show the image of oil station, and her variation of
techniques- rhyme, enjambment and onomatopeia- is amazing. Everything is soaked
in oil: father's suit, sons and even the plant. The dark, gray color is
successfully transferred to the readers as she says "some comic books
provide/ the only note of color". The image of how full of oil the place is
can be well shown more than anything through a single sentence of her saying to
"be careful with that match" on the first stanza. Overall, she uses
"y" a lot, all throughout the poem which not only shows that she is
describing but also gives a feeling of unity. The continuous usage of 6-7
sentences and sudden change into 8 sentences on the very last stanza emphasizes
message of love. It is a greasy and black place, but still somebody embroiders
the doily, waters the plant, and arranges the cans so that they make noise to
automobiles. Change of atmosphere out of unity certainly transfers the warmth.
I really like that you mentioned her use of the line "be careful with that match" because that's what really drove it home for me when I read it. I think it's cool that she conveyed it in that way. I also like how you think of her repetition in terms of unity. It does give that effect, but I never thought of it in such a way.
ReplyDelete