A Definition By Charles Bukowski Analysis

In Charles Bukowski's poem, "A Definition" he pushes the limits on the conventional definition of love by acknowledging the harsh reality, that it isn't all hearts and butterflies. When describing love, we tend to quickly jump into a world where problems cease to exist and revel in complete and total infatuation with our partner. This may be so, but as you and I both know love isn't as one-sided as just that. It doesn't come out of the blue, it's a desired commodity that comes with a world of complexity. Bukowski addresses this in this poem and further critiques the idea of love by comparing it to imagery you wouldn't naturally associate with the concept.

Love. The word itself expresses a diverse array of thoughts; such as affection towards a person, …show more content…
His writing isn't very subjective, there no concrete meaning and every verse can mean something different to the beholder. The title, "A Definition" refers to the contents of the poem; a definition of love. However, rather than writing a short-spoken explanation of what love is, Bukowski instead makes references through metaphors and comparisons to interpret his emotions. Through the use of unexpected examples, he uses analogies to describe pain, betrayal, desire, trust, hope, and everything in-between. Bukowski's poem details the good, the bad, and the ugly.

When we think of love, beer caps, donkeys, and Los Angles hotel rooftops don't usually spring to mind. However its the symbolization of this vivid imagery that Bukowski uses to refers to all the characteristics of love. For example, "love is the cockroach" could express the horrible nature of falling in love (). Having to commit to a person and the uneasiness of feelings over which you have no control. Or perhaps he's talking about how love is invincible just like the small but mighty cockroach who can survive the threat of a nuclear bomb,