Drawing comparison between a writer of postmodern literature with the stature of Allen Ginsberg with another literary icon such as Walt Whitman would be a little bit far-fetched in every sense but the fact that their work is quite similar. Despite the wide gap that is in between them in terms of age, their works are brought together in terms of similarity of content and even structure. Both writers seem to have experienced the same kind of experiences and draw their inspiration from certain quarters that are synonymous to the both of them. Ginsberg’s work is almost a mirror copy only with its own originality to that of Whitman. The stanzas of Ginsberg’s poetry and the particular way in which he relies on tangent in most of his works are just two of the most appropriate example that make his work as postmodern poet similar to that of Whitman who was a pre-war poet. Their works are brought together in literal sense by their combined objectivity in seeking enlightenment. There is a clear line of continuity that is evident from the work of Walt Whitman on to Allen Ginsberg. The older writer had a very visible influence on the younger writer. A good example for instance that is mostly drawn is between Whitman’s ‘Passage to India’ and Ginsberg’s ‘Sunflower Sutra’. the juxtaposition of the beauty of the natural surroundings is well explained by both poets in this two different poems. Whitman however, had an influence on an entire generation of postmodern writers.
The author Kurt Vonnegut Jr. in Harrison Bergeron just like in most of his other works give reality a new definition through twists of personality and the use of alter egos that impact his literary works in big way. In this work, the author sounds a warning to the universe on the struggle for fairness and equality. It has America and other nations on the lead spreading this particular message. It however provides a different view that mainly focuses on what would go wrong if this equality were attained in the end. The possibility that there would be a negative outcome from achieving freedom and equality is one of the cases in which Mr. Vonnegut Jr. uses the altering of reality to pass his message. The main character in the story, Harrison Bergeron, is an individual who stands up to the system and is not afraid to fight for the rights of others. He is a revolutionary and he is a symbol of defiance in every way. The author through this particular work shows that despite the fact there are laws that are meant to ensure equality, that is never the case and that people just live in a utopian society.
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‘ Thirteen ways of looking at a Tortilla’ by Aaron Abeyta could be said to be another continuation of another work, ‘Thirteen ways of looking at a Blackbird’ by Wallace Stevens. Adapting a literary work as excellent as Steven’s is not an easy feat but Abeyta managed it with literary grace coming up with his own original masterpiece. Linking this works of art which are both set in very different literary environments brings together two poets from different times. Both poems defy any form of direct meaning until one delves deeper into understanding the minds of the poets. The first poem, which is Steven’s is the one that mostly defies meaning in all ways while Abeyta’s work curves more into giving his own perception of things. His description of a tortilla is so vivid, that the reader could hold it in his/her mind. His use of an edible item to describe his point is relevant and appeals to the mind in that, food is a basic want to humans. Abeyta makes the tortilla tangible enough. His re-writing of another poem through his own experiences is very clear and concise. Another literary work with this form of style is English con Salsa by Gina Valdes. This poem describes in every way the blend of culture that the author went through and how it influenced her writing. She uses different thematic subjects that bring out her message quite clearly. Her anticipation at blending in with the American way of life despite her Latino background are her main concerns. The poet uses humor in her work to put a lighter note on the struggle to fit in as an immigrant in the United States. Her work shows that the dream of every person who moves from their countries of origin to America have one main goal in mind, to make a better life for themselves and their loved ones. Her depiction of her Mexican culture and traditions in this poems shows her pride in her descent as a Latino- American. One would think that Abeyta or Valdes are mocking culture or old work but it is just a picture-perfect drawing of their own world and ancestry through poetry.
The aspects of race, gender and sex are key thematic concerns in the world of literature due to their effect on today’s society. In ‘Girl’ by Jamaica Kincaid, the story is like an instructional manual that is passed down from a woman, presumably the mother of the girl being talked to. The adult lady is giving guidelines and the rules on how to survive as a woman in the Caribbean. These laid down rules are in reference to the different aspects of life such as how society expects her to conduct herself, her duties as a woman such as cooking and cleaning, her mannerism, other obligatory household chores and how she is supposed to relate to other people. It shows that due to her gender as a girl, she is expected to live in a particular way so as to fit into society. The book ‘Bullet in the Brain’ by Tobias Wolff on the other hand also touches heavily on the subjects of both sex and gender. Through a bank robbery, the main character in the story gets to outline societal expectations of gender through two women that are in line with him. The main character is stuck up in an unpleasant argument with these two women until the robbers’ attack. Another writer who tackles the theme of gender in her work with finesse is Alice Walker. In her work ‘Everyday Use’, she describes the struggle of three women who come up from nothing to make themselves great. These three characters in her story, Momma, Maggie and Dee have impoverished lives while growing up. The three characters have different characteristics that define who they are. Their struggles through life are the perfect depiction of the challenges that women go through to make a thing of themselves in life.
References
Vonnegut, K. (1962). harrison Bergeron. Mercury Press.
Wolff, T. (2013). Bullet in the Brain. Blackstone Audio, Incorporated.
Abeyta, A. (2001). Colcha. University Press of Colorado.
Kincaid, J. (1991). Girl (p. 4). San Francisco Examiner.
