a poem analysis literature

Martin Hoffman wrote the song "Deportee, also known as the Plane Wreck at Los Gatos," which depicts a plane crash that happened near Los Gatos. The inspiration for writing the poem stemmed from the racial injustice visible in the coverage of the plane crash. There were 28 migrant farm workers and four Americans among the 32 dead. Woody Guthrie wrote the poem as a critique, using a social criticism approach to argue the injustice of the mainstream coverage of the incident, the loss of life, and the discriminatory nature of culture. One of the background theories that are used in understanding social criticism is the idea of considered judgment, background theories, and moral principles. The tenets thus drive to the concept of free exchange and equality with the need for equal treatment in the social systems proving to be significant (Grosser and Moon 330). The poet complains that the passengers were not accorded the same treatment as the Americas who had boarded the plane. It is described that “You won't have your names when you ride the big airplane, All they will call you will be "deportees" (Guthrie 6). The relevance of this treatment in the perspective of social structures is that it creates a feeling on unequal treatment based on skin and at the poet criticizes. The depotees are discriminated against because they appear not to have been supposed to be on the plane in the first place. The poet quotes the big plane was not suitable for depoteess, and their names should not have featured on it in the process. The other approach taken in the poem in describing the subject in a form of anonymity that contravenes the understanding of socialism and the existence in the social environment. It is a huge concern for Guthrie that the number of people who perished in the crash continue to be perceived as anonymous and are being denied their rightful identity. It was revealed that the new accounts that were released only named the pilot, the first officer and the stewardess who happened to be the pilot’s wife. The others were listed as depoteees and the anonymity is a major concern in the writing of the poem. The poet states that “The sky plane caught fire over Los Gatos Canyon, A fireball of lightning, and shook all our hills, Who are all those friends, all scattered like dry leaves” (Guthrie 21). The impression that is created through the poem is that of a system where human being as not perceived as important. It is the primary reason for the poet’s consideration of theme of symbolism with the leaves being representative of the human nature that was losing its worth. Thus, considering the approach that the author takes, it follows the social criticism trend considering the negligence to consider human life as worthy. The last social function that is considered in the writing of the poem is the human bond and affection. The feeling is even more intense when it is perceived that the human connection is due to the loss of lives. It is from this background that the song has since been identified as a legendary protest song. Social psychologists have since established that the general human condition is structured in a way that places the human’s society to depend on each other (Kawakami et al. 563). As social interaction, we are defined by our ability to interact with one another and which forms the basis for understanding the social construction that are apparent in the song by Guthre. The poet is hurt by the fact that the people who lost their lives will no longer be able to relate with the living and they will be missed in the process. The effect of this statement is strong and has been the primary factor behind the poem’s fame. The author writes, “My father's own father, he waded that river, they took all the money he made in his life; My brothers and sisters come working the fruit trees, And they rode the truck till they took down and died” (Guthrie 9). The social conflict that results from this excerpt is that the father had connection in life and was economical and related to people but not that he was dead, he had to forget about it all because of death. Thus is given a key role, therefore, and the poet uses criticism to express his frustration at it. In summary, it is worth highlighting that the theme of social criticism is crucial in the understanding of the theme of the poem. The poet uses the tenets of discrimination, the lack of value to human life and the bond between the human and living beings in the society to illustrate his frustration at the place crash incidence. The poem is thus relevant in the contemporary life as it enables humans to deliberate on life and understand the essence of human connection in an equal manner. Works Cited Grosser, Kate, and Jeremy Moon. “Gender Mainstreaming and Corporate Social Responsibility: Reporting Workplace Issues.” Journal of Business Ethics 62.4 (2005): 327–340. Web. Guthrie, Woody. “Plane Wreck at Los Gatos (Also Known as ‘Deportee’).” Woody Guthrie Publications Inc (2016): n. pag. Print. Kawakami, Kerry et al. “In Perfect Harmony: Synchronizing the Self to Activated Social Categories.” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 102.3 (2012): 562–575. Web.