Analzying American Literature Marge Piercys Poem Whats That Smell in the Kitchen Essay

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American Literature-Marge Piercy's poem "What's That Smell in the Kitchen?"

How figurative language is used in the poem to evoke vivid images.

In the poem "What's That Smell in the Kitchen?" Piercy analyzes her mundane routine duties as an exhausted housewife; how women sometimes feel unworthy due to the behavior of men. Though in this poem, speaker does not introduce herself as a homemaker, but tells the reader about one specific woman as an example on behalf of the feelings of all women. In the beginning of "What's That Smell in the Kitchen?" author points out that dinners are being burnt all over America. This not only gives a reader the central idea of the poem but also creates curiosity to read further to know the reason. in the next four lines the author explains foods that are usually cooked in the particular cities of United States. This paints a sensory and aromatic picture in readers' mind. As the poem progresses the author stresses the issue by repeating and highlighting the same point and includes another phrase, -- women are burning / food they're supposed to bring with calico / smile on platters glittering like wax (lines 6-8) -- this ironic statement creates an impression of a very "false" woman, like a mechanical puppet or person or even a perfect and faultless "model mom" like the character of June Cleaver.

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What central idea (theme) do you see in the poet's specific uses of simile, symbolism, and imagery?

"Women are burning dinners all across America . . . steaks in Chicago haddock in Providence, and it says, all over America, women are burning food they're supposed to bring with calico smile on platters glittering like wax (Piercy, 2009)." All these statements compel us to think about the condition of women in society in this particular era. For instance, we may discuss gender-role constructs. Seen differently, it constructs as the formulation of gender roles in society, comparing gender-role at present, how we construct the roles that are expected from men and women in the current society. Despite the fact that the condition of women has improved much since then, do men and women get paid equally for the same work? Perhaps not. It means, definitely we do not treat women equally with men, and women are expected more to care for the home, even at present, than perhaps there should be, and….....

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