Poland, a nation know for a history of invasions and occupation by foreign governments and ideologies, is also home to a unique culture. One of the main elements of this culture is literature, specifically poetry, and the poets behind these amazing works of literature are extremely well know. Wislawa Szymborska, one of the most well known of these poets wrote hundreds of poems that reflect the ideals and culture of the country she grew up in. Her poems are also a derivative of events in her own life that she wished to share with her readers. Her poem “Nothing Twice”, displays the culture of socialist Poland that she grew up in, and contains inspiration from elements of her personal life and her own experiences.
Wislawa Szymborska was born …show more content…
Poland was under a socialist government until 1989. Under this government, there were terrible economic conditions and mass poverty. Secret police imprisoned any opposition to the government and most businesses were taken over by the government. During this time there was a lack of writing because all works of literature had to follow a strict socialist writing style, and be approved by the cultural board (Poland). This law affected Szymborska personally as her first collection of poetry was rejected in 1949, because it did not reflect communist and socialist ideals (Wislaw). She briefly switched to writing in the socialist realist style, but rejected socialism and renounced her earlier socialist words in 1957, and consequently left the Polish Socialist Party in 1966 (Wislaw). This renouncement of her past is displayed in “Nothing Twice”. It is specifically found in the symbolism of lines nineteen and twenty. In these lines, Szymborska states that “A rose? A rose? What could that be? / Is it a flower or a rock?” (Szymborska 19-20). She is talking about the past in these lines and comparing it to both a flower and a rock. A flower being representative of the happy and beautiful memories of the past, and the rock standing for the bad memories that weigh people down. The rock could be compared to her earlier works under the socialist government and how Szymborska regrets them. However, she moves on and realizes that she also has memories that are like the rose and are joyful and beautiful. The culture of socialist Poland that Szymborska grew up in, is displayed in this
Wislawa Szymborska was born …show more content…
Poland was under a socialist government until 1989. Under this government, there were terrible economic conditions and mass poverty. Secret police imprisoned any opposition to the government and most businesses were taken over by the government. During this time there was a lack of writing because all works of literature had to follow a strict socialist writing style, and be approved by the cultural board (Poland). This law affected Szymborska personally as her first collection of poetry was rejected in 1949, because it did not reflect communist and socialist ideals (Wislaw). She briefly switched to writing in the socialist realist style, but rejected socialism and renounced her earlier socialist words in 1957, and consequently left the Polish Socialist Party in 1966 (Wislaw). This renouncement of her past is displayed in “Nothing Twice”. It is specifically found in the symbolism of lines nineteen and twenty. In these lines, Szymborska states that “A rose? A rose? What could that be? / Is it a flower or a rock?” (Szymborska 19-20). She is talking about the past in these lines and comparing it to both a flower and a rock. A flower being representative of the happy and beautiful memories of the past, and the rock standing for the bad memories that weigh people down. The rock could be compared to her earlier works under the socialist government and how Szymborska regrets them. However, she moves on and realizes that she also has memories that are like the rose and are joyful and beautiful. The culture of socialist Poland that Szymborska grew up in, is displayed in this