Rachel

In his poem “La United Fruit Company”, Neruda laments the exploitation of Latin America by North American corporations, hence the name United Fruit Company. Presented through the use of image and language of rotten fruit, biblical reference and repetition, he criticizes the propaganda of consumerism in the United States. The entire poem itself is an extended metaphor. A world renowned corporation is transformed into a rapist.

Biblical allusions are used effectively in this poem. Neruda begins the poem by employing the biblical allusion of creation. By doing so, Neruda has created a mock narrative of creation by juxtaposing the hallowed God with consumerism. The tone of the poem is one of both sarcasm and mourning as the poet expresses his resentment towards the exploitation of Latin America. Words and phrases such as “dictatorship” and “tyranny” and acerbity help to create a mood of antagonism felt by the poet. Also his reference to fruit relates because to the story of Adam and Eve and the “first sin”. The language used within the poem is effective in maintaining at first, the melancholic mood in the first stanza, then as the choice of diction becomes less ambiguous and intensity of seriousness increases, the brutality displayed by the companies becomes more clearly depicted as bodies are “dumped into the rubbish heap”.

It is interesting to note that the title of the poem, “La United Fruit Company” is the name of a North American corporation. Yet it is ironic that the word “United” is incorporated into the title when the poem depicts the ruthless nature of North American companies such as the “United Fruit Company”. Neruda accuses the United Fruit Company and its fellow multinational corporations of raping his homeland, conglomerates that exerted their influence to determine the future of Latin American countries. The fertile and plentiful fruit has been cast aside after being sucked of its contents leaving but its peel. Neruda personifies the flies whereas he de-personifies people by terming them into object of consumption, fruit. Consumption of people through consumerism. “Ravaging coffee and fruits” implies that the narrator views these multinationals as thieves that exploit and leave _. Fruits are references throughout the entire piece, strengthening the image of exploiation. The extended metaphor of a rotten fruit relates to how Latin America is being squeezed of its juices, aka its resources and being discarded into the rubbish afterward. It represents the exploitive nature of North America. He originally talks about how it’s “juicy” and “sweet” but is consumed by parasites. Just extract what they need and discard the rest. Exploitation of Latin America, leaving the rotting peel.

Neruda refers to the dictatorship of flies. Usually, flies are usually equated as pests and Neruda employs this negative connotations of flies to refer to the Multinational corpoations_. soaked in the blood of people. Drunk flies because they were only allowed if there wasa strong allegiance in the company. Drunk on power. Dictators are flies, repetition of the word fly. Flies have a negative connotation, with decay. Repetition of the word fly association to exploitation. Grotesque imagery shows absurdity of actions. Reduced to “banana republic” By doing this, Neruda contrasts and reveals his opinion of irreverence of the North. The exploited Latin American countries are ‘rebaptized’ and renamed in the propaganda of the North as ‘Banana Republics’, which is a derogatory term because they replace the official name with a label and one questions whether the North possesses the power to baptize these countries with such a blunt tag.

The Answer
by Bei Dao Bei Dao Debasement is the password of the base, Nobility the epitaph of the noble. See how the gilded sky is covered With the drifting twisted shadows of the dead. The Ice Age is over now, Why is there ice everywhere? The Cape of Good Hope has been discovered, Why do a thousand sails contest the Dead Sea? I came into this world Bringing only paper, rope, a shadow, To proclaim before the judgment The voice that has been judged: Let me tell you, world, I—do—not—believe! If a thousand challengers lie beneath your feet, Count me as number thousand and one. I don't believe the sky is blue; I don't believe in thunder's echoes; I don't believe that dreams are false; I don't believe that death has no revenge. __repetition of "I don't believe"__

If the sea is destined to breach the dikes Let all the brackish water pour into my heart; If the land is destined to rise Let humanity choose a peak for existence again. A new conjunction and glimmering stars Adorn the unobstructed sky now; They are the pictographs from five thousand years. They are the watchful eyes of future generations. Bei Dao currently works in Chinese University //Translated by Bonnie S. McDougall//

__Ambiguous language__ __Free verse__ __Cryptic language__ __Ambiguous language__ __Defiant tone__ __Disillusionment of his society__


 * Donne and/or Wordsworth and/or Eliot and/or  ||
 *  ||
 * poems ||
 * Dickinson and/or __Plath__ and/or __Duffy__ and/or ||
 *  ||
 * poems ||
 * __Frost__ and/or Larkin and/or Walcott and/or ||
 *  ||
 * poems ||
 * __Bei Dao__ and/or Neruda and/or Szymborska ||

The road not taken


 * Confused  ||
 * Making decisions in life and making change ||
 * Opposition of thoughts, pondering used in repetitive alliteration and repetitive words to exaggerate  ||
 * A forked path leading to two different routes. A person pondering in which path or route to take or choose ||
 * A forked path leading to two different routes. A person pondering in which path or route to take or choose ||