The title of Victor Hernandez Cruz's poem "Problem with Hurricanes" suggests more serious content, but when looking at this poem we see the exact opposite. When people think of a hurricane they think of the torrents of rain, the rushing wind, and the destruction that follows. However, Cruz does not focus on these parts of the hurricane, but decides to take a different path by bringing a sort of dark humor into the idea of a hurricane. Through word choice, tone, and figurative language, Cruz is able to help the reader see life and death in a completely different way. In the first stanza we are introduced to a campesino, or a Spanish farmer. This word choice sets the scene for the reader. We now know that this poem takes place in a Spanish-speaking
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'How would your family/feel if they had to tell/The generation that you/got killed by a flying/Banana.' (pg. 1254). You would typically perceive death in a serious tone, but Cruz is able to make this more humorous than serious. The sheer ridiculousness of being killed by a banana is enough for the reader to overlook the idea of death entirely. Along with the idea of humor, there is also the idea of shame. Cruz makes it clear that it would be shameful for one to be killed in such a way. The third stanza brings up more traditional ways that people are often killed by in a hurricane. The campesino even goes as far as to say that there is honor to be found in these types of death. 'Death by drowning has honor/If wind picked you up/and slammed you/Against a mountain boulder/This would not carry shame...' (pg. 1254). Cruz gives the idea that death from the wind picking you up is honorable, but death by fruit that wind picked up is shameful and 'the ultimate disgrace.' (pg. …show more content…
'...towards the fury of the wind...' (pg. 1254). This choice of wording makes it seem as though the wind is alive and full of rage and hatred. The campesino warns people to beware of the fruit. 'beware of mangoes/And all such beautiful/sweet things.' (pg. 1254). Describing the fruit in such a way also makes it seem alive, almost like a woman. I believe the author's reasoning for such word choices is to show that things are not always as they seem. Wind is not just wind, and fruit is not just fruit. Both of these things can be threatening and
'How would your family/feel if they had to tell/The generation that you/got killed by a flying/Banana.' (pg. 1254). You would typically perceive death in a serious tone, but Cruz is able to make this more humorous than serious. The sheer ridiculousness of being killed by a banana is enough for the reader to overlook the idea of death entirely. Along with the idea of humor, there is also the idea of shame. Cruz makes it clear that it would be shameful for one to be killed in such a way. The third stanza brings up more traditional ways that people are often killed by in a hurricane. The campesino even goes as far as to say that there is honor to be found in these types of death. 'Death by drowning has honor/If wind picked you up/and slammed you/Against a mountain boulder/This would not carry shame...' (pg. 1254). Cruz gives the idea that death from the wind picking you up is honorable, but death by fruit that wind picked up is shameful and 'the ultimate disgrace.' (pg. …show more content…
'...towards the fury of the wind...' (pg. 1254). This choice of wording makes it seem as though the wind is alive and full of rage and hatred. The campesino warns people to beware of the fruit. 'beware of mangoes/And all such beautiful/sweet things.' (pg. 1254). Describing the fruit in such a way also makes it seem alive, almost like a woman. I believe the author's reasoning for such word choices is to show that things are not always as they seem. Wind is not just wind, and fruit is not just fruit. Both of these things can be threatening and