Entry #7- "On The Subway" Imagery
After reading “On The Subway” by Sharon Olds, I was brought into a world of racism and more importantly, the relationship between whites and blacks at the time. The poem is about an intense connection between whites and blacks, and these different races are compared throughout the poem. However, I was most intrigued by the imagery that the author provided and how it contributed to the relationship between the white woman and black boy. The language and words used were very descriptive. I felt as if I was in the subway with them. This really helped me in the discovery of how the images represented a relationship. Olds used imagery to show the differences between the white woman (the narrator), the black boy (the observed), and the observer, as they are all in the same subway car. The sneakers that the boy is wearing are black and described as being “laced with white.” The white laces are then said to be “intentional scars.” This shows that there is a clear interaction between whites and blacks in society and that there is definite discrimination of blacks by whites. When the author uses the word “intentional,” it explains how whites intend to harm blacks on purpose, physically, emotionally, and mentally. It also reveals the power that whites prove to have in society. Also, it is clear that the white woman and black boy are on opposites sides of the car, stuck in place, and definitely separated from each other. The clothing also adds to the relationship. The boy is described as “exposed,” compared to the white woman who is wearing fur. Overall, I praise the author for implanting these images in my brain, because I was able to establish the relationship between whites and blacks that Olds was trying to reveal. I do not agree with all of these opinions about society, but this is the story that the author was trying to portray.