Poems about Crime and Punishment
These poems are not about the novel, Crime and Punishment, rather they are about the subject. Choose one of the poems and explicate it here. Tell us what you think about it and how, if in any way it relates to one or several of the characters from our current reading.
The poem "Police line: Do Not Cross" dramatizes the conflict between appearance and reality. This poem is a very simplistic poem, but a very powerful one. It explores the scene of a crime (or an accident) not only from an observational point of view, but from an analytical perspective. The speaker in this poem is a passerby who is surveying the crime scene and drawing interpretive conclusions from it. The speaker is trying to make the point that while elements such as "lights," "sirens," "suits," and "tape" appear to be cleaning things up and making them better, the reality is that there is really no way to "fix" such a tragedy, as that too much has already been lost. The statement "lives have been lost/long before the police/were called to the scene" suggests that the speaker has a somewhat hopeless perspective, and sees such things as police lines to be frivolous and perhaps even deceptive. The final stanza is very significant in that it draws the whole poem together. The last two lines "when we can't/police ourselves" depicts the speaker's overall outlook on crime scenes in general. He is essentially saying that it does no good to expect police lines and sirens to clean up the mess we made by our inability to choose right from wrong.
ReplyDeleteThere are many structural elements of this poem that help to make it even more effective. Alliteration is a very prevalent device used in this poem. It is especially obvious in the first stanza, in the lines: "corralling chaos/containing confusion communicating in cold chorus." This device helps add to the meaning of the poem because it draws the reader's attention to this particular phrase. It kind of makes the point that just as these words seem to blend, everything involved in such a situation kind of morphs together and appears to be a blur of "chaos" and "confusion." Enjabment is also a very prominent device used in this poem. I think that this device is significant in that it sort of breaks up the poem just as a crime scene tears people apart. It also plays into the idea that police lines cannot "make us whole" even though they appear to be fixing things. These elements further depict the conflict between the appearance of a crime scene, and the reality that some things simply cannot be fixed.
I think that this poem actually relates to 'Crime and Punishment' in many ways, and especially to our section for this week. In this section, Raskolnikov goes to meet with Sonia, whom he believes may be able to revive him from his current state of disarray. He asks her to read him the story of Lazarus, who was raised from the dead, while entertaining the idea that Sonia may be that saving grace for him, allowing him to get back on his feet and make right his life again. However, the reader is then inclined to wonder whether or not this is even possible, for already "lines have been crossed, lives have been lost."
You point out how police are ineffective in cleaning up after the mistakes that we as humans make. But they are necessary for that reason. They need to be the ones that clean up after the stupid mistakes that we as human beings make. But when you drive by and see a ton of flashing blue and red lights, that means something bad happened. And you can feel sad about it. But you can also feel some hope in the fact that justice will be served.
DeleteThe poem I chose was Demons One and All. This poem shows that innocent individuals can be subject to the demeaning aspects of the justice system. This poem utilizes the use of alliteration of words starting with con-. This alliteration stresses the importance of the four words and how they relate to the stages that criminals, even if they are innocent go through. The words conviction, confinement, consignment, and and condemnation show the different aspects that an innocent person can experience under the punishment of the justice system.
ReplyDeleteThe poem is split into different stanzas that highlight different points about innocent in the justice system. While the first stanza shows the things they go to while on trial, the second stanza shows how they are viewed even if they are found innocent. The third stanza continues on with a rhetorical question, asking if the individual is innocent. It then carries on to say that it really does not matter if a person is an innocent because once a criminal always a criminal. The final stanza tells of society hiding the mistakes they have made in regards to innocent criminals. This separation of ideas through different stanzas gives the reader a better idea of the different perspectives on the issue. There is a rhyming scheme of ABAB used only in the third paragraph. This gives it a special sense of rhyme and also makes it stand out from the other stanzas. The other stanzas do not utilize a particular rhyme scheme or meter but they still have a certain rhythm.
Imagery is used throughout the poem to illustrate the disgusting things that criminals that are innocent are put through. The word "junkyard" allows the reader to imagine a criminal being cast out in debris. The word "brand" allows the reader to see a criminal being branded for crimes they may or may not have committed. The word "warm" used in the final stanza allows the reader to feel the warmth. Another device that the poem employs is a metaphor. The poem compares criminals to demons, stating that each and every one of them is a demon. This really helps with the true meaning of the poem which is trying to convey how criminals are looked at in our society. This metaphor begins at the title and then continues throughout the poem. At first glance, the title does not make much sense, but after revisiting the title after reading the poem, it makes much more sense and carries out the metaphor. The use of the rhetorical question in the third stanza adds sarcasm to the poem. The question takes the form of society asking if an individual is innocent and then goes on to say that it does not matter because they will be cast out anyways. It adds a sense of annoyance to the poem because it shows that it does not truly matter if the individual is guilty or not because they are outcasts in society. The poem shifts between first person and third person every other stanza. This allows for there to be a rotating point of view between the eyes of society and the eyes of the criminals. This gives the piece a well versed feel because it takes the form of now only the criminals but of society looking at it.
This poem, Discrimination, dramatizes the conflict between a person's appearance and how they are treated, particularly as to what the speaker experiences as a result of his appearance. The poem starts out with the poet describing how discrimination is a form of oppression. It gets into how discrimination leaves a mark on people. It is not something that is forgotten just after it happens. The poem continues on, by saying that most of the time, we don't even know the people that we are discriminating, yet we still find it within ourselves to denigrate these people. It would be hard and almost impossible to discriminate against someone that is known to you very well. But the poem closes out by justifying discrimination by saying it's because the person doesn't look like you or me.
ReplyDeleteThe rhyming scheme if this poem is rather strange. Every odd numbered line rhymes with each other, but the even numbered lines do not. This could be a subtle way of expanding on the idea of discrimination because some lines can be thought of as being better than the others. The poem also appears to be written as if it is a single sentence. And finally, the slang term present on the final line indicates that the person saying this is most likely in an informal setting, since a formal setting would require formal language.
Even though the poet never actually comes out and states why this person may be discriminated against or discriminating someone else, it is implied that this is a race issue. The only clues that the poem gives are several references to appearance. It is also unknown as too whether the person discriminates or is discriminated, which I find to be extremely fascinating and creates a whole new layer to this puzzle.
Sorry, I forgot to relate this back to Crime and Punishemnt. I apologize for being a terrible AP Literature student. Anyway, along the lines of discrimination, Roskolnikov proposes his Extraordinary Man Theory which proposes that people be separated into two classes. If that's not discriminatory, I don't know what is. Also, in Russia at this time, various religious groups, races, and government parties were being discriminated against. So anyway, I once again apologize for forgetting to add this very important part of the blog. What did I think of this poem? I thought it was good. It got its message across in a very short manner. I much rather would've done the one about Senator Lott, but I wouldn't have explicated that poem, I just would've torn into how it describes all Republicans as racist because of one Senator's poor choice of words. I'll admit, it was a very poor choice of words, but that doesn't excuse the hasty generalization on the part of the poet. Anyway, RIP Justice Scalia.
DeleteGiz, I really liked your analysis of this poem and how it relates so simply to Crime and Punishment. Discrimination in the novel is something that is extremely prevalent. Besides Raskolnikov's theory, there are several other examples of discrimination. Marmeladov is discriminated against because he is a known alcoholic. Sonia is discriminated against because she is a prostitute. All of these people have reasons to be discriminated against, justifying many people's opinions of them. However, everyone should be treated with respect, not matter what their flaws are. It is hard to treat everyone equally, but that is the right thing to do.
DeleteGiz, I think the way you related this back to the novel was very insightful. I think it is easy to see in the novel how Raskolnikov endures being a criminal the toll it takes on him. With that being said, I don't know how other criminals go about their lives and I think that is what a lot of these poems are about.
DeleteDiscrimination is not only a prevalent theme in the novel Crime and Punishment but also in today's societies. Criminals often find discrimination that prevents them from getting a job after they have done their time in prison. In fact I just watched a Lifetime movie, The Boy She Met Online, and the movie was great because I love those shady movies, but her boyfriend who she did not know was a criminal could not get a job due to his prior convictions, so he ended up resorting to more crimes by selling drugs.
DeleteI agree that discrimination plays a huge role in a lot of the crimes we see today. I can't help but think back to our seminars from last year when Jenna would always bring up the heated controversies regarding white cops shooting black citizens. It seems a bit ridiculous that our legal systems should still be having issues like this, but nevertheless, they are still very prevalent. Discrimination can play a huge role not only in crimes, but also how they are punished.
DeleteThe poem Risen from Prison is about redemption after being confined in prison. The words risen and prison found in the title and the first line rhyme. The third and fourth lines have alliteration at the first words by using released and rejoin. The poem also repeats every day twice along with the words a miracle. This is to emphasize that every day can be a miracle. The poem also uses a metaphor to compare graveyards to prison. This is to symbolize that once you're in prison, you're pretty much dead to the rest of the world until you are resurrected and saved. The poem also connected to religion by saying Alleluia! twice and ending it with amen. It talks about release being a new life and a resurrection which can connect it to the new life found in Jesus or Jesus resurrecting Lazarus from the dead to give him new life.
ReplyDeleteThis poem can relate to Raskolnikov for the way he is interested in the resurrection of Lazarus from the dead and the way he asks Sonia to read it for him. Raskolnikov is reluctant to admit it to himself, but deep down he is troubled by the acts he has committed. He knows he needs a way out of the life he is living, but he doesn't know how to change himself so he needs to find inspiration. This can also relate to Raskolnikov because he is mentally and emotionally dead. He needs great prayer and change to bring him back to life so he can function normally. Raskolnikov has made progress towards new life through his generosity to those around him, such as the donation of all his roubles to the late Marmeladov's family.
Lauren, I liked how you related this poem to Crime and Punishment. Often a momentous insight is needed in someone's life before they realize that they need to change. They may need help changing, but the realization is the first step. The change they then create can help them regain their life. Felons, after being released, often feel like they have a second chance at life. They make better decisions in their new life because they know how hard it is to live under the weight of a crime.
DeleteLauren I think this holds a lot of truth. If a person does not go through a huge event in their life then they do not realize that they ever have a need to change. I know in my own experience that I have to have an experience to change my outlook on life before I realize that I need to change.
DeleteThis whole theme reminds me a lot of Dr. Manette from A Tale of Two Cities. He too was in a sense "risen from prison," as Mr. Lorry and Lucie rescued him from madness. I think that Raskolnikov is in need of a similar resurrection, and is turning to Sonia to help him achieve it. We know that Lucie and Mr. Lorry were willing to help resurrect Dr. Manette, so now we're left to see if Sonia can help Raskolnikov be "recalled to life."
DeleteThe poem "Poetic Justice" dramatizes the conflict that society creates between punishing convinces and preventing them from being created. The poem's first two stanzas illuminate how society deals with felons. Society would rather spend time and money on prisons, cops, and courts than on centers that can help struggling individuals turn their life around. Instead of treating the cause, society is dealing with the symptoms. Some felons may not have committed their crimes if they had a better way of life. Thievery is a crime that is often committed to help someone make a better life for themself. If the felon had received help from a societal institution, they may not have needed to steal. The poem continues, saying that society has invested in felons, and created more crime. However, eventually the felons will be released and put back on the streets. The poem finds this to be poetic justice. This does seem to be a fitting retribution for society. Instead of cleaning up the crime, they have created criminals. It would have been better to help the less fortunate. In that way, they could have truly cleaned up the crime because people would have had no reason to commit crimes.
ReplyDeleteI believe this poem relates very well to Raskolnikov. I believe that Raskolnikov was influenced by society into murdering the pawnbroker. There were problems with his lifestyle that could have been changed by society. His living conditions and sickness could have been remediated if St Petersburg would have had a program to help him find a job. A job would have provided him with the economic means to better himself. I also think this relates to Marmeladov. He is scorned by his peers because he has a drinking problem. However, there are no programs in place to help him. It is incredibly hard to combat alcoholism without the support of a group or one's family. Marmeladov has neither of those things.
Ashley, I often feel as if society spends too much money on housing victims rather than helping them with a rehabilitation process. Many times I have wondered why homeless people don't commit petty crimes just to have a roof over their heads and a meal three times a day. Prison should focus more on helping people overcome their struggles instead of just merely punish them. Many convicts find redemption through an education or religious service held there. There should be more attention focused on how to help the criminals find a way back to normal life.
DeleteAshley, I like how you point out how we waste so much money on prisons. A lot of the prisoners really, are just terrible people, and I feel no obligation to send money that I earn to the government so they can pay for the lowest of the low to live. This is why I am a firm supporter of the death penalty. Obviously, we can't just go around willy nilly executing every criminal in sight. But if a criminal is 110% guilty of a major crime like murder or rape, then they do not deserve to rot in prison. I was just watching tv and someone on the show I was watching said, "People who do not want to change won't change." Rapists and murderers will not change if you put them through a rehabilitation clinic. And if they get released back onto the streets, then they're just going to commit the same crimes again. It's the same thing with Roskolnikov. He murdered Aliona because he wanted to. If you try to rehabilitate him, he'll still be the same Roskolnikov we've come to know and love.
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