The Bastard Peace

THESIS: WILLIAMS ILLUSTRATES THE IMAGE OF POVERTY WHILE INCORPORATING ASPECTS OF SPRINGTIME IN ORDER TO COMPREHEND THE ACTUAL MEANING OF PEACE.

The Bastard Peace

Overall Interpretation

Servants are trapped and living in poverty “-where a heavy woven-wire fence topped with jagged

ends, encloses a long cinder-field by the river-” (1st Stanza)People still have the sense of hope

“A dandelion in bloom-and a white butterfly-” (Lines 11-12)However, people lack confidence for change.

“The sun parches still the parched grass.” (Lines 13-14)Continue living their “peaceful” life.

“There to rest, to improvise and unbend!” (Line 23-24)False peace (title)

Sense: Meaning and LanguagePurpose/Effect:

Williams wants to show the understanding of poverty and using 1st person is the effective way.

By involving the images of springtime, it portrays the concealed sense of hope which tells the reader that poverty is not peaceful.

Williams repeats important words to communicate the extent of poverty.

Speaker: A poor individualPoint of view: 1st PersonInternal monologue: Expressive

ThoughtsMood: Hopeless

“Cinder Field” (4) “Parched Grass” (14)

Diction: “Bastard Peace” : A false peace (title) “Disposal Tank”, “Sewer Intakes” : Loss of

freedom. “Dandelion”, “White Butterfly”, “Service

Path” : Sense of hopeRepetition:

“Water” repeated 2x: Freedom “Fence” repeated 3x: Blocked Freedom

Senses: Imagery and SymbolsPurpose/Effect:

Williams uses the imagery of poverty and springtime to help contrast the ideas between good peace and bad peace visually.

The color ‘white’ is used as a symbol to indicate that the people surrender and are hoping for better peace.

Imagery of Poverty Parched Grass/Cinder Field Cracked Houses Home-made push cart Small wooden pit-covers Two chickens

Springtime Imagery Dandelion in bloom (line 11) A white butterfly (line 11-12) Shining water/river Sun

Symbolism: color “a white butterfly” (line 11)

Style: Poetry Techniques

Purpose/Effect:

Williams enhances the bad image of poverty.

Williams’s use of stream of consciousness helps communicate the true thoughts of poverty.

Hyperbole The sun parches still the

parched grass. (Line 13-14)

Paradox Title contradicts poem

Stream of Consciousness Thoughts show that

society is not peaceful Repetition: ‘fence’ 3x The essence of

springtime

Structure: form, organization, and pattern

Purpose/Effect:

The structure of the sentences indicates the duration of poverty by showing that poverty is never-ending.

Williams incorporates the exclamation points to contrast the emotion between poverty and peace.

Poverty is continuous End Stopped with hyphens

Represents a cycle in the poem

Syntax Long sentences No period at third sentence at

the end of the poem Stanza: 4 lines each

No change in society Exclamation Points

Symbolizes hidden positivity. “Gid ap!” (Line 21) “There to rest, to improvise

and unbend!” (Lines 23-24)

Sound: Musicality and Auditory Techniques

Purpose/Effect:

Williams uses end rhyme at one point to emphasize the concealed sense of hope to show depression.

Williams uses free verse to consider poverty as ‘peaceful;’ however, it is seen as depressed through the reader’s view.

End-Rhyme “by” and “butterfly” (Lines 10

and 12)Free Verse

Throughout the poem with the exception of line 10 and 12

Connection to Other Poetry by Williams

Poems with similar ideas: “The Poor”

The use of visual imagery to enhance understanding Same idea of poverty

Historical context: The Great Depression (1929-1943)

Part 1: Activity

Draw an image of what you think true peace means to you.

Illustration

Part 2: Discussion

If the poet were to add a period at the end of the poem, would this bring any effect on the idea of poverty and explain why?

The poet has incorporated images of springtime in the poem. Would the main idea of the poem change if the theme ‘spring’ were omitted? How effective would this change be on the main idea of the poem?

BASED ON THE USE OF IMAGERY AND STRUCTURE OF THE POEM, IT CAN BE DETERMINED THAT POVERTY IS NOT PEACEFUL BUT IS CONSIDER IMAGINARY PEACE UNTIL A MIRACLE OCCURS.

Conclusion