- What creates the poem's humor? How does Hazel's use of language reveal her personality? Is her treatment of the frog consistent with her character?
In many ways I believe that the
language use itself is what creates the poem's humor. Also the
absurdity of bringing a magical creature/fairy tale element into a
very “real world” setting. It's very specific – not just a
hotel or a motel, but a Howard Johnson's. It stirs up images of some
ultra-70s teal and orange building with rooms that smell of
cigarettes. It's a very realistic setting which is a stark contrast
against the whimsy of the magical frog “prince”.
Hazel's language use gives us the impression that she is uneducated, but independent and (for lack of a better word) “sassy”. The use of “sohelpmegod” without spaces or “well I screams” … or the fact that the entire poem reads like one giant run-on sentence lends to its colloquial nature.
Hazel's treatment of the frog is consistent with her character – and it is in line with two different interpretations that I've considered for this poem. The first is that Hazel is an independent woman who rejects the notion of a “fairy tale” because she is a reasonable and practical woman – and that she is unwilling to resign herself to a fate that exists only as a relation to a man. The second interpretation is that because of her lot in life, a simple housekeeper leading a terribly UN-glamorous existence, Hazel doesn't believe that she is worthy or capable of being a “princess” and that the frog MUST be trying to sell her a lie because something like that happening to someone like her would be impossible. (“rags to riches”, low-class to high class, etc.) Hazel feels trapped by her social status.
Hazel's language use gives us the impression that she is uneducated, but independent and (for lack of a better word) “sassy”. The use of “sohelpmegod” without spaces or “well I screams” … or the fact that the entire poem reads like one giant run-on sentence lends to its colloquial nature.
Hazel's treatment of the frog is consistent with her character – and it is in line with two different interpretations that I've considered for this poem. The first is that Hazel is an independent woman who rejects the notion of a “fairy tale” because she is a reasonable and practical woman – and that she is unwilling to resign herself to a fate that exists only as a relation to a man. The second interpretation is that because of her lot in life, a simple housekeeper leading a terribly UN-glamorous existence, Hazel doesn't believe that she is worthy or capable of being a “princess” and that the frog MUST be trying to sell her a lie because something like that happening to someone like her would be impossible. (“rags to riches”, low-class to high class, etc.) Hazel feels trapped by her social status.
- What is the theme? Is it conveyed through denotative or connotative language?
I have two different interpretations as to what
the theme might be. It's either about a woman feeling empowered to
reject the notion of a fairy tale or an existence that only is
available to her through the offering of a “prince”/man, or
it is about a woman who feels trapped within her social class and
cannot believe that her becoming a princess could ever even be a
possibility – so she assumes that the frog is only trying to serve
his own desires to be kissed in exchange for nothing.
Machan's
works in feminist publications and interest in women's rights and
feminism would support her desire to write about this topic with
either interpretation.
- Comment on any other poems by this author which might provide insight into this one.
In the poem, “Ada
Macomber: Redwing, 1888,” a similar situation about a woman feeling
trapped by her social class and circumstances is presented.
Here on Maple Street, civilized
Here on Maple Street, civilized
high white walls and
proper
doors with knockers
shaped
like foxes, I entertain
friends, acquaintances,
skirts
full and corsets
carefully
laced, smiles the curve
of husbands' success. Who
am I to widen out my
boundaries, embrace a man
of loam and seed? He
says my name, the one
I never dare pronounce
where
silk dulls tongue: I
dance within his gaze
like light
gone wild, new sun ray
swaying
blue to gold to blue
again
before dark calls, before
time becomes a way of
staying
distant, lifeless, pure.
Though
the speaker in this poem is in the opposite social class, she faces a
similar problem about feeling stuck within the confines of her
“place,” socially. I think that this is still a problem that
women face in current society. I think it's something that men
encounter as well, but in many ways the social expectation of a woman
is to “dance” or “tiptoe” around a man – or that her
identity will be defined by her relationship or usefulness to a man.
In
looking for another poem to compare, I read through several of
Machan's poems, and what I found most fascinating about them is that
they cover varying topics about the human experience and that, many
times, each speaker has a very distinct personality and
characterization. It speaks to her creativity that she is able to
use such varying yet distinguishable “voices” within her
poems.
And I loved reading the poetry of someone who is from our area and takes such pride in living in Ithaca. It was really inspiring!
And I loved reading the poetry of someone who is from our area and takes such pride in living in Ithaca. It was really inspiring!
Works
Cited
Machan,
Katharyn Howd. “Hazel Tells LaVerne”. The
Bedford Introduction to Literature. Ed.
Michael Meyer. 9th ed. Boston: Bedford, 2012. 608. Print.
Machan,
Katharyn Howd, “Ada Maycomber: Redwing, 1888”. Louisiana
Literature. 27.1 (2010): 80. Humanities Source. Web. 17
Oct. 2013.
