The Reality of Marge Piercy's Secretary Chant

The Reality of Marge Piercy's Secretary Chant

The Reality of Marge Piercy’s “Secretary Chant

“The Secretary Chant” by Marge Piercy tells the story of a woman who feels like she has sold her sole to a career. She uses metaphors to describe how her body had been transformed into one big machine. The speaker characterizes herself as someone who “wonce was a woman.” This statement from the speaker tells us that the theme of the poem is a woman who has lost all personality and been transformed into an office robot. The way she related her body parts to office materials shows that she is nothing more than a repetitive function.
“The Secretary Chant” is a lyric the author used to express the emotions of a dried up secretary. Not only is the poem expressing the emotions of a very dried up and bitter secretary, but it stresses the fact that many women are reduced to such tedious work. It would be hard for me to imagine a man describing his body as such objects. This poem definitely has relevance to our culture. It reflects on the everyday lives of many women in this country, women that are viewed merely as robots in the workplace. The speaker says “From my mouth issue canceled reams” (16). This statement simply goes to show that no one acknowledges her or listens to her ideas because they see her as nothing more than a robot secretary. Bosses and fellow employees think she is designed to do the task she does and lacks any personality or life outside of work.


The Ironic Edwin Arlington Robinson’s “Richard Cory”

Edwin Arlington Robinson’s poem “Richard Cory,” is a perfect example of why you can’t judge a book by its cover. In the poem the people of the town describe Richard Cory as “a gentleman from soul to crown” (3) and “richer than a king” (9). He is conveyed as more important than the people because they are merely “people on the pavement” (2). He is characterized as a gentleman; clean flavored, and even having the ability to flutter pulses when he simply says “Good-morning.” All of these...

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