I found these two stories to be a bit disturbing. The Lehman poem over the World Trade Center is a bit ironic, probably not so at the time it was composed but in the current light it is. I do agree with his conclusion after he realizes that the World Trade Center symbolized American greatness, even though the architectural style was not as ornate as the Empire State and Chrysler Buildings. The Daddy by Plath was definately disturbing to me. I may be way off the mark here, but it seems that the narrator is talking to Hitler, at least I think. I was a bit puzzled, because I don't think Hitler had a daughter. She spoke of killing and mentioned the suffering of Jewish people in the concentration camps. I also see a reference to Dracula in this poem, especially when she says about vampires and then at the end states there is a stake in the big black heart.
Comparisons of these stories, I find that both authors use a tragic events to make their points, the Holocaust and the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center. Both make reference to the fact that they were wrong and then changed their opinions.
Contrasts of the stories include, the relation of the author to the story. Lehman was a passive observer, while Plath's character was an active participant, related to the Nazi party. Lehman speaks of a building, while Plath speaks of the German Air Force, torture, death, and destruction. Far more graphic and violent.
Posted by ChristopherParfitt at March 3, 2005 03:13 PM | TrackBack