Epitaphs in Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters - Book Report/Review Example

First Sur Essay One It is a common belief that the dead tell no tales. However, the “Spoon River Anthology” draws itsfame from the apparent monologues of the dead men and women of the fictional Midwestern town called Spoon River. The author, Edgar Lee Masters, uses metaphor as one of the literary devices to draw inspiration for his epitaphs. In Serepta Mason’s epitaphs, the speaker uses metaphor when she compares herself to a flower. In line seven, she complains about the town people by saying that they were ignorant of “the ways of the wind.” The “ways of the wind” represent the circumstances that forced her to live the way she did. She further adds that “the unseen forces” are some of the things that the town people did not know is life determinants (Ln 8). Instead, people saw only her negative side, which she describes as having “stunted petals” of a flower in line two, but not her beautiful aspects. Serepta makes the excuses for living the negative side of life in a metaphorical manner. In her view, the town people are “fools” and she is lying in the graveyard on the Hill, a bitter woman. Still, Mabel Osborne metaphorical compares herself to a geranium thirsting of water, which nobody cares to give. She refers to the love and attention she seeks as water that she thirsts for. However, she receives neither. Therefore, she ends up living lonely until her departure. Nevertheless, Archibald Higbie’s epitaph is a blame to the Spoon River for his failure as an artist. He says, “I seemed to myself be free” (Ln 6). The “free” represents his desire to be a great artist yet some of the shortcomings in his place of origin makes him feel trapped. Essay Two The epitaph of Coolbaugh Whedon illustrates how the newspaper was manipulated in Spoon River for personal gain rather than supplying the town with the quality news they deserve. As the editor of the Argus, he served the interest of the business elites. He admits to having perverted the truth to ride it for personal gain. He could create a scandal for money and revenge or for selling more newspapers. Furthermore, he says he could crush reputations or bodies to win at any cost and save the life of the business people whose interest he was serving. The epitaph shows an apparent misuse of press powers for personal gain. Again, Clarence Fawcett’s epitaph further gives an accurate picture of press abuse of the press. The speaker argues that the death of Eugene Carman puts his due promotion in limbo. Therefore, he wants to keep his dirty secrets of stealing blankets for money to save his reputation. When Rhodes accuses him and coaxes him to confess, he begs Rhodes and the editor to keep the story out of the papers. However, his plan fails when all the papers run the story as a thief because Rhodes is making a personal impression as an advertiser to the public hence does not care about the plight of Clarence. Moreover, Carl Hamlin’s monologue also depicts the press of the Spoon River as wrecked. He feels tarred and feathered for publishing a story that caused the consequent hanging of anarchists in Chicago. Probably he is regretting having exaggerated or published falsely the story about the anarchist that caused their eventual fall. Essay Three Hannah Armstrong’s epitaphs display the politics that takes place in the white house. Mrs. Hannah was a friend of Abraham Lincoln long before politics made him famous. Surprisingly, when she wrote letters and emails requesting the president to discharge her son William from the army, there is no response. Armstrong attributes the non-response to the fact that those around the president could not read her letters or may be her email got lost among emails. She travels to the Whitehouse though forcefully, to see the president yet she still faces restricted entry when she arrives. Her revelation reveals the typical behavior of presidential aides limiting access to serving leaders, which goes against the doctrine of democracy. Still, Elsa Wertman’s monologue depicts the power of politics. The character is a peasant girl from Germany working at Thomas Green’s (politician and public figure) house. During one summer, Mr. Green kisses Wertman, an escaped that results in pregnancy. However, Mr. Green does not frown upon discovering that act. She instead capitalizes on it because she is childless. She spread rumors that she is pregnant and hid herself in the house for the whole period until the birth of the child whom Mrs. Green assumes as hers and keeps it a secret from the political circle. Hamilton Green (the baby) becomes very influential Politician and even in his epitaph acknowledges that he is the single child of Mrs. and Mr. Green. Master depicts politicians such as the family of Mr. Green as capable of manipulating anything to their advantage. Masters continues to illustrate his pessimistic view on politics through Thomas Rhode’s epitaph. In Rhode’s monologue, his status as the president of the bank makes him the most influential person in town. Rhode’s mismanagement caused the bank to ruin hence destroying many lives within the Spoon River town. Despite his fellow perpetrators going to prison for crimes at the bank, Rhode’s political and social influence allows him to plea bargain for an acquittal. Rhode also employs politics when he mercilessly hounds the store Manager for stealing blankets. He runs the story in the newspaper despite the confession of the shop manager to gain social standing. Essay Four Mrs. Williams’ epitaph presents a view on happy marriage life. She describes herself as the milliner, the talk of most husbands in town. She describes that it is the duty of women to make themselves attractive to their husbands to enjoy marriage. Her view is that marriage should be a happy union, but women must spice up their looks and charm to strike love in any marriage, the way she is overwhelmingly beautiful. Similarly, William and Emily’s epitaphs talk about love. The inscriptions say, “if with someone with whom you have known the passion and the glow of youthful love” (Ln 2). The author presents a lovely description of passionate union between two lovers that can happen in marriage if the union is out of love (Ln 3). Additionally, he talks of “you also, after years of life together, feel the sinking of the fire and thus fade away together,” (Ln 4-7). The later description illustrates marriage that is everlasting, which the couples still feel love for each other even in old age. Benjamin Painter’s epitaph clearly demonstrates the negative view about marriage. Painter is a very powerful attorney who, by all standards, people expect to have a fruitful marriage. However, his marriage is experiencing hurdles, which openly comes out when his wife loathed his for his chronic drinking. Though married, Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin are having opposite views on almost everything. For instance, she heads the social purity club that condemns drinking and gambling, yet her husband struggling with drinking problems and fan of gambling. The final blow to their marriage happens when the wife drove him from their matrimonial home, prompting the attorney to live in his back office. Benjamin’s marriage depicts a rock that does not survive the storms. Additionally, Indignation Jones view of his marriage is a disappointment. He feels that his wife is a slattern, which makes him ashamed of her. His attire of disheveled, ragged clothes and matted hair depicts a marriage that none of the partners cares for the welfare of each other. Therefore, Jones lives a very dull marriage life yet the society views marriage as something that should be enjoyable and less miserable. Essay Five Reuben Painter’s epitaph is a nostalgic monologue in the form of a letter addressed to Emily Sparks. Apparently, Reuben missed her teacher cum secret lover for the whole period he was far away from her in other parts of the world. He tries to make an explanation to Sparks on why he left and what he felt until his death concerning supposed love. On the other hand, Emily Sparks’ epitaph seems to be a straight answer to Reuben’s inquires. She wonders where the boy she loved in school went to in the world. She describes how everyday she wished well for Reuben and still encourages him to work for his soul’s sake. The two epitaphs resonates each other on the undying love, which falls victim of life circumstances. Master depicts lamentation in the tone of both speakers. Benjamin Painter’s monologue describes a man who felt lonely during the latter years of his stay on earth. He says that all the people who loved him ranging from his children, friends and acquaintances passed on, one by one, leaving him lonely. However, he is not happy with his wife whom he accuses of snaring him at his time of need. Therefore, he resorts to drinking as the last resort to console his miserable life. Mrs. Benjamin’s epitaph seems to be a defense to the accusation of his husband. She justifies her reason for hating her husband as the loose life of drinking and absentia of Benjamin. Surprisingly, the two epitaphs resonates each other in that Benjamin’s one explains what he felt in the old days while his wife’s epitaph justifies why she treated him that way. The druggist’s epitaph is an external view of love. The speaker says that a chemist can tell with accuracy the result of compounding fluids or solids yet no one can tell how men and women interacts. He gives an example of Benjamin and His wife, whom he says are evil to each other such as hydrogen and oxygen in the chemistry world. Their resulting son, Reuben Painter, is a failure too. All the epitaphs above are talks about love. While the Reuben’s and Emily’s are about the lost love, Benjamin’s and his wife’s depicts a love that has gone sour. The Druggists summarizes the whole love issue by saying that none can tell what men and women union will be like or what they eventually become. Work Cited Masters, Edgar Lee. Spoon River Anthology. Champaign, Ill.: Project Gutenberg. Print. Read More

The speaker argues that the death of Eugene Carman puts his due promotion in limbo. Therefore, he wants to keep his dirty secrets of stealing blankets for money to save his reputation. When Rhodes accuses him and coaxes him to confess, he begs Rhodes and the editor to keep the story out of the papers. However, his plan fails when all the papers run the story as a thief because Rhodes is making a personal impression as an advertiser to the public hence does not care about the plight of Clarence.

Moreover, Carl Hamlin’s monologue also depicts the press of the Spoon River as wrecked. He feels tarred and feathered for publishing a story that caused the consequent hanging of anarchists in Chicago. Probably he is regretting having exaggerated or published falsely the story about the anarchist that caused their eventual fall. Essay Three Hannah Armstrong’s epitaphs display the politics that takes place in the white house. Mrs. Hannah was a friend of Abraham Lincoln long before politics made him famous.

Surprisingly, when she wrote letters and emails requesting the president to discharge her son William from the army, there is no response. Armstrong attributes the non-response to the fact that those around the president could not read her letters or may be her email got lost among emails. She travels to the Whitehouse though forcefully, to see the president yet she still faces restricted entry when she arrives. Her revelation reveals the typical behavior of presidential aides limiting access to serving leaders, which goes against the doctrine of democracy.

Still, Elsa Wertman’s monologue depicts the power of politics. The character is a peasant girl from Germany working at Thomas Green’s (politician and public figure) house. During one summer, Mr. Green kisses Wertman, an escaped that results in pregnancy. However, Mr. Green does not frown upon discovering that act. She instead capitalizes on it because she is childless. She spread rumors that she is pregnant and hid herself in the house for the whole period until the birth of the child whom Mrs.

Green assumes as hers and keeps it a secret from the political circle. Hamilton Green (the baby) becomes very influential Politician and even in his epitaph acknowledges that he is the single child of Mrs. and Mr. Green. Master depicts politicians such as the family of Mr. Green as capable of manipulating anything to their advantage. Masters continues to illustrate his pessimistic view on politics through Thomas Rhode’s epitaph. In Rhode’s monologue, his status as the president of the bank makes him the most influential person in town.

Rhode’s mismanagement caused the bank to ruin hence destroying many lives within the Spoon River town. Despite his fellow perpetrators going to prison for crimes at the bank, Rhode’s political and social influence allows him to plea bargain for an acquittal. Rhode also employs politics when he mercilessly hounds the store Manager for stealing blankets. He runs the story in the newspaper despite the confession of the shop manager to gain social standing. Essay Four Mrs. Williams’ epitaph presents a view on happy marriage life.

She describes herself as the milliner, the talk of most husbands in town. She describes that it is the duty of women to make themselves attractive to their husbands to enjoy marriage. Her view is that marriage should be a happy union, but women must spice up their looks and charm to strike love in any marriage, the way she is overwhelmingly beautiful. Similarly, William and Emily’s epitaphs talk about love. The inscriptions say, “if with someone with whom you have known the passion and the glow of youthful love” (Ln 2).

The author presents a lovely description of passionate union between two lovers that can happen in marriage if the union is out of love (Ln 3). Additionally, he talks of “you also, after years of life together, feel the sinking of the fire and thus fade away together,” (Ln 4-7). The later description illustrates marriage that is everlasting, which the couples still feel love for each other even in old age.

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