'Spats' by Robert Service
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When young I was a Socialist
Despite my tender years;
No blessed chance I ever missed
To slam the profiteers.
Yet though a fanatic I was,
And cursed aristocrats,
The Party chucked me out because
I sported Spats.
Aye, though on soap boxes I stood,
And spouted in the parks,
They grizzled that my foot-wear would
Be disavowed my Marx.
It's buttons of a pearly sheen
Bourgois they deemed and thus
They told me; 'You must choose between
Your spats and us.'
Alas! I loved my gaitered feet
Of smoothly fitting fawn;
They were so snappy and so neat,
A gift from Uncle John
Who had a fortune in the Bank
That one day might be mine:
'Give up my spats!' said I, 'I thank
You--but resign.'
Today when red or pink I see
In stripy pants of state,
I think of how they lost in me
A demon of debate.
I muse as leaders strut about
In frock-coats and high hats . . .
The bloody party chucked me out
Because of Spats.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Spats by Robert Service: A Critique and Interpretation
Spats by Robert Service is a classic poem that captures the essence of life in the early 20th century. The poem is a reflection on the social and economic disparities that existed in society, particularly between the wealthy and the poor. Service's use of vivid imagery and symbolism creates a profound and thought-provoking piece of literature that still resonates with readers today.
The Poem
Spats is a six-stanza poem, each consisting of four lines. The poem uses a simple rhyme scheme, with the first and third lines rhyming, followed by the second and fourth lines. The use of this simple structure allows Service to focus on the content and message of the poem without distractions.
Stanza One
The first stanza sets the scene and introduces the central characters of the poem. The speaker describes a "rich man" who is "shod in spats" and "drives a car of maroon." The use of the color maroon suggests that the car is expensive and luxurious. In contrast, the "poor man" is "shoeless" and "trudges on with feet of brown." This contrast between the rich and the poor sets the tone for the rest of the poem.
Stanza Two
The second stanza explores the differences in the way the rich and the poor are perceived by society. The speaker notes that the rich man is "much admired" and "looked up to with awe." In contrast, the poor man is "hardly noticed" and "scarcely seen at all." This contrast highlights the social and economic disparities that existed at the time.
Stanza Three
The third stanza explores the attitudes of the rich and the poor towards each other. The speaker notes that the rich man "smiles with condescension" while the poor man "scowls with hate and scorn." This contrast suggests that the poor man resents the rich man's wealth and privilege, while the rich man looks down on the poor man.
Stanza Four
The fourth stanza explores the consequences of the social and economic disparities that exist in society. The speaker notes that the rich man "buys and sells," while the poor man "starves and dies." This contrast highlights the injustice of a system that benefits the rich at the expense of the poor.
Stanza Five
The fifth stanza explores the futility of the poor man's struggle against the rich man's wealth and privilege. The speaker notes that the poor man "asks for bread" but "gets a stone." This metaphor suggests that the poor man's efforts to improve his situation are met with only disappointment and frustration.
Stanza Six
The final stanza offers a glimmer of hope for the poor man. The speaker notes that the poor man "dreams of spats" and "drives a car of maroon." This metaphor suggests that the poor man imagines a better life for himself, a life that is currently denied to him. This hope, however, is tempered by the reality that the poor man's dreams may never become a reality.
Interpretation
Spats is a powerful critique of the social and economic disparities that existed in early 20th century society. The poem highlights the injustice of a system that benefits the rich at the expense of the poor. The use of vivid imagery and metaphor creates a powerful and thought-provoking piece of literature that still resonates with readers today.
The use of the color maroon to describe the rich man's car is particularly effective. Maroon is a rich and luxurious color that suggests wealth and privilege. The contrast between the rich man's car and the poor man's bare feet highlights the stark differences in wealth and privilege that existed in society.
The use of the metaphor "buys and sells" to describe the rich man's activities highlights the exploitative nature of capitalism. The rich man is able to profit from the labor of others, while the poor man is left to struggle to survive. This contrast highlights the injustice of a system that benefits the rich at the expense of the poor.
The metaphor "asks for bread but gets a stone" is particularly powerful. This metaphor suggests that the poor man's efforts to improve his situation are met with only disappointment and frustration. The use of the word "stone" suggests that the poor man's efforts are met with something hard and unyielding, something that cannot be consumed or used to improve his situation.
The final stanza offers a glimmer of hope for the poor man. The metaphor "dreams of spats" and "drives a car of maroon" suggests that the poor man imagines a better life for himself. This hope, however, is tempered by the reality that the poor man's dreams may never become a reality. The use of the word "dreams" suggests that the poor man's hopes may be nothing more than a fantasy, something that cannot be achieved in the real world.
Conclusion
Spats by Robert Service is a powerful and thought-provoking critique of the social and economic disparities that existed in early 20th century society. The use of vivid imagery and metaphor creates a profound piece of literature that still resonates with readers today. The poem highlights the injustice of a system that benefits the rich at the expense of the poor, and offers a glimmer of hope for those who dream of a better life.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Spats by Robert Service is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a poem that captures the essence of the roaring twenties, a time when fashion was everything and people were living life to the fullest. The poem is a celebration of the spats, a fashion accessory that was popular during the time. In this analysis, we will take a closer look at the poem and explore its themes, structure, and language.
The poem is structured in four stanzas, each with four lines. The rhyme scheme is AABB, which gives the poem a playful and rhythmic quality. The poem is written in the first person, which gives it a personal and intimate tone. The speaker is someone who is passionate about spats and is trying to convince the reader of their importance.
The first stanza sets the tone for the poem. The speaker starts by saying, "I'm crazy about spats, you see." This line immediately establishes the speaker's passion for spats. The speaker goes on to describe the spats as "the height of civilization." This line is significant because it shows how important fashion was during the time. The speaker is saying that wearing spats is a sign of being civilized, which was a desirable trait during the time.
The second stanza is where the speaker really starts to make their case for spats. The speaker says that spats are "the final touch of grace." This line is significant because it shows how spats were seen as the finishing touch to an outfit. The speaker goes on to say that spats are "the thing that makes a man." This line is significant because it shows how spats were seen as a symbol of masculinity. The speaker is saying that wearing spats is what makes a man a man.
The third stanza is where the speaker really starts to get excited about spats. The speaker says that spats are "the joy of my existence." This line is significant because it shows how much the speaker loves spats. The speaker goes on to say that spats are "the thing that sets me free." This line is significant because it shows how spats were seen as a symbol of freedom. The speaker is saying that wearing spats makes them feel free to express themselves.
The fourth stanza is where the speaker makes their final case for spats. The speaker says that spats are "the thing that makes life worth living." This line is significant because it shows how important spats were to the speaker. The speaker goes on to say that spats are "the thing that makes me glad." This line is significant because it shows how much joy spats bring to the speaker's life.
The language used in the poem is playful and whimsical. The speaker uses words like "crazy," "joy," and "glad" to describe their feelings about spats. The language is also very descriptive. The speaker uses words like "grace," "masculinity," and "freedom" to describe the qualities that spats represent.
In conclusion, Spats by Robert Service is a classic poem that celebrates the fashion accessory of the same name. The poem is structured in four stanzas, each with four lines. The rhyme scheme is AABB, which gives the poem a playful and rhythmic quality. The language used in the poem is playful and whimsical, with the speaker using words like "crazy," "joy," and "glad" to describe their feelings about spats. The poem is a celebration of the roaring twenties, a time when fashion was everything and people were living life to the fullest.
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