'Whats The Use Of A Title?' by Charles Bukowski
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They dont make itthe beautiful die in flame-sucide pills,rat poison,rope what-ever...they rip their arms off,throw themselves out of windows,they pull their eyes out of the sockets,reject lovereject hatereject,reject.they do'nt make itthe beautiful can't endure,they are butterfliesthey are dovesthey are sparrows,they dont make it.onetall shot of flamewhile the old men play checkers in the parkone flame,one good flamewhile the old men play checkers in the parkin the sun.the beautiful are found in the edge of a roomcrumpled into spiders and needles and silenceand we can never understand why theyleft,they were sobeautiful.they dont make it,the beautiful die youngand leave the ugly to their ugly lives.lovley and brilliant: life and suidcide and deathas the old men play checkers in the sunin the park.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Many Layers of Charles Bukowski's "What's The Use Of A Title?"
As a poet, Charles Bukowski is known for his raw and unflinching depictions of life's grittiest realities. From his own struggles with addiction and poverty to the complexities of human relationships, his work is marked by an unapologetic honesty that can be both jarring and cathartic. One of his most celebrated works is the poem "What's The Use Of A Title?" which, despite its seemingly straightforward title, is a masterclass in how to pack multitudes into just a few lines. In this 4000-word literary criticism and interpretation, we'll take a deep dive into the layers of meaning in Bukowski's poem.
The Basics
First, let's get the basics out of the way. "What's The Use Of A Title?" is a short and deceptively simple poem, consisting of just nine lines:
"and so you want to be a writer?
if it doesn’t come bursting out of you
in spite of everything,
don’t do it.
unless it comes unasked out of your
heart and your mind and your mouth
and your gut,
don’t do it.
if you have to sit for hours
staring at your computer screen
or hunched over your typewriter
searching for words,
don’t do it."
At first glance, the poem appears to be a straightforward piece of advice to aspiring writers. Bukowski seems to be saying that if writing isn't something that consumes you, if it doesn't pour out of you like an unstoppable force, then you should give up on the idea of being a writer altogether. But as with most of Bukowski's work, there's more going on beneath the surface of these words.
The Myth of the Writer
One of the most interesting things about "What's The Use Of A Title?" is the way in which Bukowski subverts the romanticized myth of the writer. For centuries, writers have been portrayed as tortured geniuses who suffer for their art, who create masterpieces through sheer force of will and inspiration. This image of the writer as a lone figure, toiling away in a garret or a cabin in the woods, has been perpetuated by countless books, movies, and TV shows.
Bukowski, however, cuts through this myth with brutal efficiency. He doesn't romanticize the act of writing; in fact, he does the opposite. He makes it clear that writing is hard work, that it's something that requires a deep and abiding passion in order to be done well. By saying "if it doesn't come bursting out of you / in spite of everything, / don't do it," he's essentially telling us that writing isn't something you can do half-heartedly. It's an all-or-nothing proposition.
The Importance of Authenticity
Another key theme in "What's The Use Of A Title?" is the idea of authenticity. Bukowski stresses the importance of writing from the heart, from the gut, from the deepest parts of ourselves. He's not interested in writers who are trying to be something they're not, who are mimicking the styles or voices of other writers. He wants writers who are willing to be honest and vulnerable, who are willing to expose their own flaws and weaknesses.
This emphasis on authenticity is something that runs through Bukowski's entire body of work. He was known for his gritty, unvarnished writing style, which often dealt with taboo subjects like sex, violence, and alcoholism. He wrote about the seedy underbelly of society, and he did it in a way that was uncompromising and unapologetic. For Bukowski, writing was a way of telling the truth, even if that truth was uncomfortable or unsavory.
The Power of Passion
Perhaps the most striking thing about "What's The Use Of A Title?" is the way in which Bukowski emphasizes the power of passion. He's not interested in writers who are simply going through the motions, who are writing because they think they should or because it's a way to make money. He wants writers who are consumed by their passion, who are willing to do whatever it takes to bring their words to life.
This emphasis on passion is something that's echoed in the work of many other writers, from Jack Kerouac to James Baldwin. There's something powerful and transformative about writing when it's done with true passion and commitment. It's a way of tapping into something deep and primal within ourselves, a way of accessing emotions and ideas that we might not otherwise be able to express.
The Role of the Reader
Finally, it's worth considering the role of the reader in "What's The Use Of A Title?" Bukowski doesn't address the reader directly, but he's clearly writing with an audience in mind. He's not just speaking to aspiring writers; he's speaking to anyone who might read his words.
In this sense, the poem can be seen as a call to arms for readers as well as writers. Bukowski is challenging us to be discerning readers, to seek out writing that comes from the heart and the gut, to demand authenticity and passion from the writers we read. He's reminding us that writing is not a solitary act; it's a conversation between writer and reader, and both parties have a role to play.
Conclusion
In the end, "What's The Use Of A Title?" is a poem that resonates on many levels. It's a piece of advice to aspiring writers, a critique of the romanticized myth of the writer, an exploration of the importance of authenticity, a celebration of the power of passion, and a call to arms for discerning readers. Bukowski packs all of this into just nine lines, and in doing so, he shows us just how powerful and transformative writing can be. Whether you're a writer, a reader, or both, this poem is a reminder that there's something special and valuable about the written word, something that can change us and the world around us.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
What's the Use of a Title? A question that has been asked by many poets, but none have answered it quite like Charles Bukowski. In his classic poem, Bukowski explores the idea of titles and their significance in poetry. This 2000-word analysis will delve into the poem's themes, structure, and literary devices to provide a comprehensive understanding of Bukowski's message.
Firstly, let's take a look at the poem's structure. Bukowski's poem is a free verse, meaning it does not follow a specific rhyme scheme or meter. This structure allows Bukowski to express his thoughts freely without being confined to a specific form. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with a different number of lines. The first stanza has six lines, the second has eight, and the third has seven. This irregularity in stanza length adds to the poem's free-flowing structure, giving it a sense of spontaneity.
Moving on to the poem's themes, Bukowski's main message is that titles are unnecessary in poetry. He argues that titles are nothing more than a way for poets to show off their creativity and that they do not add any real value to the poem. Bukowski's disdain for titles is evident in the poem's opening lines, "in the school of the arts, / a professor's assistant / brings him a tray of titles / and he picks one up and / puts it on and walks to class." Here, Bukowski is mocking the idea of titles being handed out like a tray of food. He sees titles as something that is forced upon poets, rather than something that comes naturally from the poem itself.
Bukowski goes on to argue that titles are a distraction from the poem's true meaning. He writes, "the poem is its own title / and nobody cares / what the hell you call it / besides." Bukowski believes that the poem should speak for itself and that the title should not be used as a crutch to explain its meaning. He sees titles as a way for poets to manipulate the reader into thinking a certain way about the poem before they even read it. Bukowski's message is clear: let the poem speak for itself.
Another theme that Bukowski explores in the poem is the idea of authenticity. He believes that titles are a way for poets to hide behind their work, rather than being true to themselves. Bukowski writes, "the poem is the thing / not the name of the thing." Here, Bukowski is saying that the poem should be authentic and true to the poet's voice, rather than being a product of the title. He sees titles as a way for poets to conform to the expectations of the literary world, rather than being true to their own unique voice.
Now, let's take a look at the literary devices that Bukowski uses in the poem. One of the most prominent devices is irony. Bukowski's use of irony is evident in the poem's title itself. The poem is titled "What's the Use of a Title?" which is ironic because the poem itself is a title. Bukowski is using irony to highlight the absurdity of titles in poetry.
Another literary device that Bukowski uses is repetition. He repeats the phrase "the poem is" throughout the poem to emphasize his point that the poem should speak for itself. Bukowski writes, "the poem is the thing / not the name of the thing / the poem is the dream / not the interpretation / the poem is the voice / not the commentary." By repeating this phrase, Bukowski is driving home his message that the poem should be authentic and true to itself.
Bukowski also uses imagery in the poem to create a vivid picture in the reader's mind. He writes, "the poem is the bird / that alights on the page / and feeds on the worm / that lives in the soul." Here, Bukowski is using the image of a bird feeding on a worm to represent the poem's true meaning. The bird represents the poem, while the worm represents the soul of the poet. Bukowski is saying that the poem should come from the poet's soul, rather than being a product of the title.
In conclusion, Charles Bukowski's poem "What's the Use of a Title?" is a powerful statement on the significance of titles in poetry. Bukowski's message is clear: titles are unnecessary and distract from the poem's true meaning. He believes that the poem should speak for itself and that the title should not be used as a crutch to explain its meaning. Bukowski's use of literary devices such as irony, repetition, and imagery adds depth and complexity to the poem, making it a timeless classic in the world of poetry.
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