A lingering sense of hopelessness is embedded within the human condition, manifesting itself in various ways depending on the person. This sense of hopelessness is delved into constantly within literature, although most poignantly though the works of Bobbi Sykes, Edgar Allan Poe, Wilfred Owen, and Seamus Heaney. Both Sykes and Poe utilise the poetic device of symbolism as to generate a persistent feeling of futility throughout their works. Through the emphasis of both the magnificence and devastation of nature by Owen and Seaney, the mood of melancholy hopelessness is attained. The poetic device juxtaposition is used by both Sykes, within multiple poems, and Owen as to reiterate the undeniable element hopelessness has within the human condition.
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This poetic device is used as to produce a persistent sense of hopelessness within both poems. Although both Sykes and Poe utilise the poetic device of symbolism, they do so as to convey extremely contrasting themes– one portraying intense societal disempowerment, and the other portraying the story of a lost love. Despite these obvious thematic disparities, both poems conclude in a hopeless manner. Within ‘Monopoly,’ Sykes repeatedly flirts with the symbol of the ‘black doll,’ whilst Poe contemplates the symbol of the sea. Sykes, an Indigenous Australian and human rights advocate symbolises herself subtly as the ‘black doll.’ The term ‘black doll,’ being directly derived from the colour of the poet’s skin, and the most common usage of dolls. Dolls are characteristically used by children to play with – dolls have someone deciding what they wear, what they think, and what they say. Through this symbol, Sykes expresses that she feels as though she is being utilised by both her peers and opposition in the same manner in which a doll would be by a child. Not only is the ‘black doll,’ portrayed as to being controlled by others, the ‘black doll,’ is portrayed as being used to “amuse [the whites],” she is portrayed as to being a spectacle for those around her to enjoy. “Talk, doll; rave, doll; rant, doll.” The disempowerment that the ‘black doll,’ faces throughout the poem leaves the reader feeling extremely used, extremely hopeless, it leaves the poet feeling the exact same way. This overall feeling of hopelessness felt by both the poet and the reader is emulated through the effect which the symbol of the sea has within Poe’s poem. The symbol of the sea is used to depict a bottomless pit filled with icy water, with demons thriving within its depths. This symbol reflects that of the emptiness and desolation which the
This poetic device is used as to produce a persistent sense of hopelessness within both poems. Although both Sykes and Poe utilise the poetic device of symbolism, they do so as to convey extremely contrasting themes– one portraying intense societal disempowerment, and the other portraying the story of a lost love. Despite these obvious thematic disparities, both poems conclude in a hopeless manner. Within ‘Monopoly,’ Sykes repeatedly flirts with the symbol of the ‘black doll,’ whilst Poe contemplates the symbol of the sea. Sykes, an Indigenous Australian and human rights advocate symbolises herself subtly as the ‘black doll.’ The term ‘black doll,’ being directly derived from the colour of the poet’s skin, and the most common usage of dolls. Dolls are characteristically used by children to play with – dolls have someone deciding what they wear, what they think, and what they say. Through this symbol, Sykes expresses that she feels as though she is being utilised by both her peers and opposition in the same manner in which a doll would be by a child. Not only is the ‘black doll,’ portrayed as to being controlled by others, the ‘black doll,’ is portrayed as being used to “amuse [the whites],” she is portrayed as to being a spectacle for those around her to enjoy. “Talk, doll; rave, doll; rant, doll.” The disempowerment that the ‘black doll,’ faces throughout the poem leaves the reader feeling extremely used, extremely hopeless, it leaves the poet feeling the exact same way. This overall feeling of hopelessness felt by both the poet and the reader is emulated through the effect which the symbol of the sea has within Poe’s poem. The symbol of the sea is used to depict a bottomless pit filled with icy water, with demons thriving within its depths. This symbol reflects that of the emptiness and desolation which the