Men's Toys
... example, the poem begins by stating, “Women should be pedestals moving pedestals moving to the motions of men” (1-9). This rather harsh description of the roles of women give the impression of irony due to the fact that they seem to be a little over the top. If this is what the author truly felt, they may not have been so overbearing. In addition, words such as: pedestals, horses, toys, and things have the same effect that is degrading women to a level that is beneath that of men. The author also states, “Or they should be little horses those wooden sweet old fashioned painted rocking horses” (1-9). Phrases such as these all lead the reader to question the sincerity of the claims made and to consider the possibility of the presence of irony. The tone of the poem also gives a clue as to its theme. The abundant sources of verbal irony in the poem lead to its theme that women are viewed by today’s society as merely the playthings of men. They are not viewed as equals or even worthy of equal treatment to that of men. Women in this poem are also described, “Immobile sweet lipped sturdy and smiling women should always be waiting” (21-27). This phrase further contributes to the central idea that women are the objects of men’s attention, instead of their equals. Instead of women living out their own lives as they wish, they are depicted as const...