Poem Analysis of Fire and Ice by Robert Frost and The...

The possession of power over others is inherently destructive both to the possessor of the power and to those over whom it is exercised. George D. HerronThe modern industrialist society, in which we live, has been shaped by people in the possession of power, and the power of passion. The 20th and 21st centurys have illustrated clearly the deadly potential of power, and not just to the possessor of the power but also to those over whom it is exercised. The poems Fire and Ice and The Day They Came For Our House by Robert Frost and Don Mattera respectively, perfectly convey the idea of the destructive nature of power, the poems are both concerned with Mortality of Age. The ideal readers of these poems are people old enough to†¦show more content†¦He describes their arrival as, Armed with bulldozers/they came/to do a job/nothing more/just hired killers/ (stanza 2, lines 1-5). This quote represents how insignificant the Africans are perceived to be, by the white people coming to demolish their town. Don Mattera explains no emotion in this stanza. He has done this to show that the white people also had no emotion in what they were doing. In his eyes they didnt care, it was just another job for them. The lines, We gave way/there was nothing we could do/although the bitterness stung in us (stanza 3, lines 1-3). Clearly illustrates the Africans lack of power. They cant do anything; this highlights the destructive nature of power, and relates to the theme of mortality and age. This is portrayed throughout this poem, Don Mattera, explains how it is pointless for them to do anything because they have no power. The whites who demolished Sophiatown gave into ego and greed, and used their power against the black Africans. This is a perfect example of power being destructive to those over whom it is exercised. Don Matteras cultural background has influenced this poem drastically, because he grew up in Sophiatown, which at the time was a vibrant centre of South African culture. His poem is very personal; this makes it easier for the ideal reader to relate to. Fully understanding this poem requires the readers to understand the hardship and pain that the Africans went through. The lines, We