Frost and Eliot: modernist poetry and influence

American Literature

In the works of William Faulkner ("Light in August"), Jean Toomer ("Cane"), and Eugene O'Neill ("The Hairy Ape), the emergence of the theme of racism was illustrated as a social issue that was embedded in the daily lives and mundane activities of people at any point or period in American history. What was evident in these authors' works was the illustration of racism as a way of life, as part of the mundane, wherein the phenomenon simply happens without sufficient explanation or determined origin. Moreover, racism was almost always depicted by considering non-white or colored individuals as inherently untrustworthy and has the tendency to commit deviant acts and behavior. Take as an example Faulkner's novel, which featured Joe Christmas, a man of mixed race, who had been associated as bad man because, among other things, he has "negro blood." What was noticeable in people's judgment was that they did not discriminate him due to his irresponsible and criminal acts, but mainly due to the fact that he is a man of mixed blood origin. Their judgment of Christmas's personality was based primarily on his race, and his criminal behavior supported the people's pre-conceived notions that he was indeed a man not to be given the town's confidence. Racism in O'Neill's play, meanwhile, was a metaphorical distinction that points out how humanity had regressed rather than improved as time moved forward and civilizations improved. His satirical play centers on the moral degeneration of humanity as it became thoroughly industrialized and modernized, hence, humans have become "apes" once again. Lastly, Toomer's selections in "Cane" reflected the seemingly prejudiced treatment of colored people, as was explicated in the story, Becky. Despite Becky's being a white woman, she was still discriminated because she "had one Negro son." Discrimination was either in the form of cruelty or just plain sympathy, which was worse since it seemed that there was a consensus in the society that to be in relations with a colored individual would result to a disadvantaged life.

Robert Frost is a modern poet in the sense that he tackled themes that centered on individualism and self-improvement, two important life principles that prevailed and dominated society as it moved towards the 20th century and modernization. These principles of individualism and self-improvement, in fact, were questioned and contemplated in the poem, "After Apple-Picking." In this poem, Frost contemplated through imagery the lack of purpose the Voice's life had been, and "apple-picking" was a symbol for his continued need to achieve success and improvement in life. However, as was later discussed in the poem, his failures in life led him to prefer life over death, hence the phrase, "after apple-picking." This poem echoed the disillusionment that humanity felt with the increasing feeling of competition and social Darwinism prevalent in the modern society.