Never Betray Beliefs In Komunyakaa’s “Under House Arrest” he describes a situation where the narrator is stuck in his home. The narrator is describing his discontent and need to fight will dreading the awful position that he is in. He wishes that he could be outside and free from his shackles; however, he refuses to turn back on the actions he took and will end up taking. Because of this, the message the Komunyakaa is trying to get across is that no matter the situation, no matter the pain the readers should never betray themselves because once they do, their foundations and fights are over. Prior to being put under house arrest, the narrator’s head is “bashed” with “nightsticks” (5, 4) Based on the imagery given here, it can be concluded
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The husband in the poem wants knows that his wife is very beautiful and, because of that, does not want her to say or do anything that will spoil her image, and more importantly, his image. Komunyakaa writes this poem as a call to action to all of his readers. By showing the presumed gender roles, the resistance put forth by the wife, and the effect of the resistance, Komunyakaa shows the readers that they should not conform to ideas they do not agree with but instead …show more content…
This is attempted when the he presents her with a “bloodstone” (19). The bloodstone is significant because bloodstones are considered one of the most beautiful stones in the world. However, in this sense, the man is considering himself a bloodstone, meaning he thinks that because he is the most handsome man in the world. This is known because he asks the wife “now aren’t you lucky” (22). Due to this statement, the wife finally puts up her resistance in the form of “Hell no” (23). With this statement, the wife makes her intentions very clear. She is not the “antebellum” woman that her husband so desired (1). The word choice of “hell” is extremely significant because it goes against everything connotated with Pre-Civil War women. Because of this stand, her motives are acknowledges and the psyche of her husband
The husband in the poem wants knows that his wife is very beautiful and, because of that, does not want her to say or do anything that will spoil her image, and more importantly, his image. Komunyakaa writes this poem as a call to action to all of his readers. By showing the presumed gender roles, the resistance put forth by the wife, and the effect of the resistance, Komunyakaa shows the readers that they should not conform to ideas they do not agree with but instead …show more content…
This is attempted when the he presents her with a “bloodstone” (19). The bloodstone is significant because bloodstones are considered one of the most beautiful stones in the world. However, in this sense, the man is considering himself a bloodstone, meaning he thinks that because he is the most handsome man in the world. This is known because he asks the wife “now aren’t you lucky” (22). Due to this statement, the wife finally puts up her resistance in the form of “Hell no” (23). With this statement, the wife makes her intentions very clear. She is not the “antebellum” woman that her husband so desired (1). The word choice of “hell” is extremely significant because it goes against everything connotated with Pre-Civil War women. Because of this stand, her motives are acknowledges and the psyche of her husband