Skunk Hour Essay -- essays research papers

Frustrations Armored AromaSkunk Hour by Robert Lowell and The Armadillo by Elizabeth Bishop are two closely related poems. Both deal the theme of an animal carrying with it natural defenses, and the image of an isolated spectator. However, there is peerless important contrast between these poems The Armadillo portrays a creature who cannot comprehend the events destroying the emotional state about it, whereas the verbalizer in Skunk Hour understands, possibly overly well, the events affecting its life.By using the skunk as a descriptive element for his character, Robert Lowell increases the distance between the character and the brief glimpse of decree portrayed in the poem. Skunks, generally, are avoided by everyone because of their reputation for spraying unwanted visitors with a noxious vapor. Here, the reason for Robert Lowells choice in animals becomes obvious. Utilizing such an isolated animal to parallel the thoughts of the speaker, Lowell considerably strengthens the distance between the speaker of the poem and the "love-cars" (Lowell 11) being watched. Even if the occupants of those cars knew they were being observed, chances are they would not attendant themselves with the speaker.In addition, Robert Lowell portrays his character as something akin to a stalker, illustrated in the undermentioned excerpt.&9&9&9One dark night,&9&9&9my Tudor Ford climbed the hills skull&9&9&9I watched for love-cars....