"All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace" by Richard Brautigan

In his poem, “All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace,” Richard Brautigan leaves the reader with an open-ended message on his view of technology. First, it could be interpreted as having an anti-technology tone and message. This can be seen through his use of subtleties. Brautigan opens the poem with, “I like to think (and/the sooner the better!)” (line 1-2). His use of parentheses gives the reader the idea of the phrase to be an internal side mark from the speaker, as if he was not actually saying it, but rather thinking it. The use of parentheses is seen again when Brautigan writes, “I like to think/(right now, please!)” (line 9-10). By this time, the use of parentheses by Brautigan gives the reader a sense of tonal sarcasm. This parenthetical text demonstrates the idea that society is so dependent on technology that people need instant answers from it in order to think.

Another interpretation could leave the reader thinking that Brautigan had a pro-technology tone and message. This interpretation can be seen through his diction and word choice. Throughout the poem, Brautigan uses terms such as, “cybernetic meadow” (line 3), “programming harmony” (line 6), and “machines of loving grace” (line 25). These terms all have natural and positive connotations to them. Brautigan’s choice to use diction of natural beauty can lead the reader to believe that technology should be a natural thing that society should embrace for mankind’s benefit.

I believe the first interpretation of Richard Brautigan’s poem is more convincing. Through his tone of sarcasm created by subtleties, his message is that technology really is an unnatural thing that humans rely on far more than we should be. His use of parentheses creates a tone of sarcasm to the reader, which makes the natural and positive word choice seem all in a tone of sarcasm as well. It reads in a tone that is mocking the idea of a cyber world rather than promoting it. Although his description, “a cybernetic meadow/where mammals and computers/live together in mutually/programming harmony” (line 3-6), may seem like a convincing pro-technology argument, his sarcastic tone created by parentheses leads the reader to realize how unnatural a situation like this could be.

"Casabianca" by Felicia Hemans

In her poem, "Casabianca," Felicia Hemans uses contradicting images in order to demonstrate her viewpoint on war. Her use of imagery serves as a way for the reader to observe connotations based on her word choice. By using images of burning fire juxtaposed with images of childlike innocence, she is able to convey her argument that war destroys much more than human lives, but also purity and innocence.

She begins the poem with an image of war by using the term, "burning deck" (line 1). This image immediately gives the reader a picture of anger, rage, passion and fire. This line introduces the setting of her poem in order for the reader to understand the tone of the poem to be very serious and dark. The image of a burning deck also allows the reader to make mental connotations to the images of war. Hemans' use of burning fire imagery introduces the common knowledge and interpretation of war. In other words, she reminds the reader of what they already know about war: the passion, pain, and raging torment of those who fight.

When first introducing the character of the young boy in the poem, Hemans uses terms such as, "beautiful and bright" (line 5) and "proud though childlike" (line 8). This serves as a shift in image for the reader as Hemans goes from images of war and fire to images of innocence. The purpose for this contradiction is to introduce the idea of purity in relation to war. It is uncommon to think that these two subjects relate, but by conveying them together in her poem, Hemans is abel to argue that war acts as a means for the loss of purity and righteousness in society. By using imagery that conveys childlike innocence, Hemans introduces the consequence of war that the reader may or may not have thought of. Through her use of childlike imagery, Hemans is able to argue that the loss of innocence and purity among society as a result of war is just as much of a loss, if not more, as the loss of human lives.

Felicia Hemans' use of contradictory images served as a way to demonstrate her argument that loss of innocence within a society due to war is just as grave as the casualties. She argues her point through the poem by juxtaposing these two very different images, just as she does in the closing of her poem by saying, "But the noblest thing that perish'd there/Was that young, faithful heart" (line 39-40).

William Shakespeare

In my own world, where everything I think is absolute truth, William Shakespeare is the god of literature. Don't get me wrong, I respect many other authors from throughout the ages with very high regards of admiration, but I have yet to find someone who could surpass the talents of Shakespeare. I haven't read all of his works, which might cause this blog post to stir various counterarguments against my opinion, but from what I have read, I will never be able to forget. My favorite piece of Shakespeare's is Hamlet. For me, it is amazing how intertwined all of Shakespeare's opinions and thoughts about society were quilted through the play. I find it quite superhuman to be able to translate all of those thoughts and ambiguities into one play. Even more amazing to me is Shakespeare's thorough use of iambic pentameter, which is something that convinces me that his brain can not be human. My own hypothesis is that Shakespeare's mind was able to process thoughts about ten times faster than anyone else. Since this can not be proven false today, it is what I will depend on for understanding how Shakespeare was able to accomplish all of his literary feats. To me, his understanding of humans, society, and life itself is not quite absolute. However, it is the clearest notion of these understandings that I have ever encountered. Reading Shakespeare's works make me analyze and really question the nature of humans, and I often find myself coming to what may be the beginning of a conclusion for these intricacies. For these listed reasons and many more, I have decided to title my blog as, "Shakespeare Knows Best." Through the course of English 3, I hope to find someone or something that can impress me as much as William Shakespeare has, because if I do, I might just name a blog after them.