question 5
In the very title is
where I believe you see the first paradox, the words Mexican and American are
used in such a way as to say that a person can only be either, or. Moreover the
statement suggests that these terms are comparable to oil and water.
The tension comes from the knowledge that these term are in fact not
either, or's. Or metaphoric oil and water terms, but that they can indeed be
mixed, in such ways as a Mexican-American or an American that is Mexican. Our
minds know that these two words are not opposites but we see them used in just
that way which creates tension in our understandings of the terms.
The speakers tone can be
seen in the many rhetorical questions he asks throughout the poem, starting at
line 1 through 3, asking a question about a situation that we know
is preposterous or at the least not true. Then in the very next set
of lines (4 to 8) he again asks a rhetorical question posing situations that
again isn't true.
The poem also has what
would seem to be very image driven situational irony, in lines 12 through 17
you see am man who is described as the following: Asthmatic, turtle heavy, and
a nest of wrinkles. He’s also leaning on an assistant and can’t seem to even
carry his own weight. Yet still has the strength to stand publicly and exclaim “they’re
taking our jobs”. This man clearly cant work in almost any job, especially the
jobs in which he claims are being taken from him or his people. The man is
yelling publicly about an issue that in many ways doesn’t affect him.
I saw a different view on this poem. I believe that Baca is using irony to show that mexicans are not talking jobs from americans. I believe he is explaining that immigrants are taking the jobs that many americans will not do. He keeps using the word taking throughout the poem. I believe he does this because he is using it as a word that americans are over using when it comes to immigrants.
ReplyDeleteI liked your take on the poem, it shows a very diverse interpretation on this seemingly simple poem.
ReplyDeleteI found a split view between your post and the first comment. I agree with the irony in the title and it does suggest tension, but I did view this poem in a way where the americans were protesting more about immagrants not just doin jobs they were unwilling to do themselves but as an immigration problem in all. Maybe thats a little out of context.
ReplyDeleteI loved the fact that you made a comparison with oil and water, just in the title. It fits nicely into the poem. I, on the other hand, do agree with the fact that you said that the writer is simply complaining about a widely known and very hard to resolve worldly issue. Solving this type of problem takes a lot more effort than just standing up in front of a crowd of listeners or complaining about something that isn't affecting you personally to whomever will listen.
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