Jim Hall’s Spiderman poem distinguishes itself from the other poems I have become familiar with. Of course, one of these distinguishable qualities is the character Spiderman’s lisp, which makes reading the poem aloud very entertaining. But more importantly, the Spiderman poem has a deeper meaning that is unrelated to its comedy side. Jim Hall connects to the wide audience who wish to re-invent themselves or tweak certain aspects of their lives, such as a particular job. This poem helps individuals reflect upon themselves, analyzing strengths and flaws.
In “Maybe Dats Your Pwoblem,” even Spiderman wishes to re-invent himself and “buin” his suit. Having a superhero as the flawed narrator is extremely effective for Hall. Superheroes have had the connotation of being flawless, and the fact that Spiderman wishes to start over is surprising and ironic. One would expect a superhero to be living the good life, and having fun. But instead, Spiderman finds his job/responsibility dull and repetitive. Apparently for Spiderman, swinging from one skyscraper to another does not make his heart beat “at a difwent wate,” but racing cars does. Since Spiderman can’t burn his suit, and neither can anyone else, I would love to trade with him, as it has been most boys’ dream to become a superhero. Spiderman in the poem perfectly exemplifies a man struggling with the responsibilities he has been forced to live an entire lifetime with.
I, myself, have had this same opportunity of self-examination. As arrogant as it may sound, I found it very difficult to find even one minor flaw. Truly, It is a positive sign that I was unable to choose a single characteristic that I would change about myself. Maybe some people are lucky, or maybe some people have already learned to love what they do. However, with the plethora of opportunities that my parents and PCDS have made available, I feel I have been able to do what I love. And for this, I am very blessed.
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Throughout analyzing this poem, I decided that this is my favorite poem of all time, so far. I am really glad we were able to read this and expand on it.
LAW. and order
Antigone- by Sophocles (442 B.C.)
Dictionary.com defines law as, “the principles and regulations established in a community by some authority and applicable to its people.” This is different to what dictionary.com defines natural law as, “a principle or body of laws considered as derived from nature, right, or reason.” To me laws help define and outline between what is right and what is wrong (legal vs. illegal). In Antigone, we come across a dispute over such laws.
Two brothers, Eteocles and Polyneices, kill each other while fighting on opposite sides during the Thebes civil war. Creon, King of Thebes and uncle of Eteocles and Polyneices, orders Eteocles body a proper burial and Polyneices body be left untouched on the battlefield to be eaten by the carrion animals, the worst punishment at the time. Antigone, the sister of both E and P, wants to give Polyneices body a proper burial, which is against Creon’s ruling. Antigone is caught and later kills herself (as do Eurydice and Haemon) before Creon could take back his mistake.
This clash of values between Creon and Antigone are important to the play. Creon is strict in following the state laws. He demands his people obey the law, right or wrong. He says, “there is nothing worse than disobedience to authority.” On the other hand, Antigone believes in the higher law of the gods and natural law. She fells that the state laws can and need to be broken in an extreme case. In her situation Antigone’s case is about honoring the gods, whose rules certainly outweigh those of Creon’s. The moment of recognition for Creon comes when the blind prophet, Tiresias, informs him that the Gods side with Antigone. Creon realizes his mistake to place the law of the state above the law of the gods far too late, and three people have already killed themselves. But like in most tragedies, knowledge and wisdom are gained for some future happenings.
Antigone was right, and she fought for what she believed in as morally and logically correct. It was Antigone’s defiance and stubbornness that made this story, where natural law is above state law.(381)
Dictionary.com defines law as, “the principles and regulations established in a community by some authority and applicable to its people.” This is different to what dictionary.com defines natural law as, “a principle or body of laws considered as derived from nature, right, or reason.” To me laws help define and outline between what is right and what is wrong (legal vs. illegal). In Antigone, we come across a dispute over such laws.
Two brothers, Eteocles and Polyneices, kill each other while fighting on opposite sides during the Thebes civil war. Creon, King of Thebes and uncle of Eteocles and Polyneices, orders Eteocles body a proper burial and Polyneices body be left untouched on the battlefield to be eaten by the carrion animals, the worst punishment at the time. Antigone, the sister of both E and P, wants to give Polyneices body a proper burial, which is against Creon’s ruling. Antigone is caught and later kills herself (as do Eurydice and Haemon) before Creon could take back his mistake.
This clash of values between Creon and Antigone are important to the play. Creon is strict in following the state laws. He demands his people obey the law, right or wrong. He says, “there is nothing worse than disobedience to authority.” On the other hand, Antigone believes in the higher law of the gods and natural law. She fells that the state laws can and need to be broken in an extreme case. In her situation Antigone’s case is about honoring the gods, whose rules certainly outweigh those of Creon’s. The moment of recognition for Creon comes when the blind prophet, Tiresias, informs him that the Gods side with Antigone. Creon realizes his mistake to place the law of the state above the law of the gods far too late, and three people have already killed themselves. But like in most tragedies, knowledge and wisdom are gained for some future happenings.
Antigone was right, and she fought for what she believed in as morally and logically correct. It was Antigone’s defiance and stubbornness that made this story, where natural law is above state law.(381)
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