This poem is from the perspective possibly a loved one of the "good girl." It has a paradox of this "girl who is a good girl, but yet not a good girl." She has quit smoking and stopped drinking on weekdays, but yet she dresses slutty with mascara. In many areas of the poem, it compares this girl to a very derogatory image and low class comparisons.
In the beginning of the poem, the speaker humorously claims that this girl is complaining about her clean backyard, a freshly painted fence, clean barbeque, and a nice bed of flowers. The speaker gives the image that this good girl has all these nice luxuries and complains about all of them and still urges to do bad girl things. For instance, the speaker compares this girl to someone who is ungrateful when she states "Don't you want to run to the corner right now
for a fifth of vodka and have it with cranberry juice and a nice lemon slice." She shows how on the outside the girl may seem like a good girl, but on the inside she is an ungrateful bad girl.
Later in the poem, the speaker talks about how this girl is over forty. She seems to be desperate for a man and will throw herself at anyone. The speaker compares her desperation for a man as a dog begging to be pet. Dogs are very vulnerable and will do anything for love and attention. They are also very playful and have a very immature personality. This depiction of the girl created by the speaker gives the impression that the girl is older and single, but even though she is supposed to be knowledgeable and smart, she is very immature and desperate. It alludes that this girl may seem like a good girl and very mature middle aged woman, but is still childish and doing bad immature things.
Allie,
ReplyDeleteWhen analyzing the speaker, you say, "This poem is from the perspective possibly a loved one." This will need development - you need to provide evidence from the poem that supports the notion that the speaker isn't the girl but still very close to the girl. Still, I like that you instantly deal with the speaker and persona created. You also write, "It has a paradox of this "girl who is a good girl, but yet not a good girl." True, yes. I'm not sure if this is actually the thesis or just a developing idea, but you'll want to phrase it a bit more formally. I'm not quite following with this first piece of evidence, though -- she's given up "bad girl" habits but she's "slutty" because she wears mascara? Does the poem really imply or state that wearing mascara equates with sluttiness?
This is a good idea: "In many areas of the poem, it compares this girl to a very derogatory image and low class comparisons." Discussing this in terms of comparison is a good start, but you'll want to be as specific as possible: is the speaker using contrast? Metaphor? Simile? Analogy? Etc. As much as possible, try to identify and state HOW she makes these comparisons.
"The speaker gives the image that this good girl has all these nice luxuries and complains about all of them and still urges to do bad girl things." Do you think the poet's trying to invoke any irony here? As in perhaps suggesting all these "good" things aren't so satisfying, after all?
This: " She shows how on the outside the girl may seem like a good girl, but on the inside she is an ungrateful bad girl." Perhaps, so but what's the tone here? Is the speaker judging the girl . . . or encouraging her?
"The speaker compares her desperation for a man as a dog begging to be pet" = analogy.
"It alludes that this girl may seem like a good girl and very mature middle aged woman, but is still childish and doing bad immature things" - this isn't actually an allusion - I think you mean the speaker implies that the girl/woman is dual-natured (good and bad, mature and immature, etc.)
Allie, ultimately, I think you're on to a lot her, but two things: without any quotes, I find it more difficult to make specific suggestions. I'm referencing the poem as I go, and I think I'm getting at what you mean, though. I hope so. Second, really pay attention to (and talk about) the speaker's attitude toward the girl and how tone indicates this attitude (for instance, is the speaker critiquing one specific person or the expectation that women should be "good" girls? Look for sarcasm and focus on irony.
I hope the feedback helps!
A