The poem Chicago written by Carl Sandburg embraces modernism because it looks simple but stands out. His modernist way of writing the poem in 1914 captures the events of the time when the city of Chicago was still in its developmental stages. Also, the poem’s main theme and way of writing have been influenced by Ezra Pound as seen through the way the poem is more direct thus avoiding unnecessary words that water down a poem and make it look like a narrative. The use of free verse is evident in the poem, and that allowed Sandburg to use complete lines laden with images in a bigger portion of the poem. Worth noting is the fact that this poem shows how the city of Chicago has many good and bad qualities, and it is those imperfections that Sandburg uses to make it look unique but normal of any town in so many ways. The author uses writing styles such as imaging, apostrophe, rhythm and even symbolism to show the flaws of the city of Chicago but makes it respectable at the same time thus making it a modernist piece of work.
It is imperative to note that only the words here are enough to bring out the picture of the Chicago that existed in 1914 when the poem was written. If such kind of writing was to be compared to previous literary work they will not come anywhere close considering that 19th-century English poetry that had measured rhythm, structure and form. The good thing about this style of writing as seen in the poem is that it is clear and precise. In as much as it does not rhyme, at least, the point is driven home, and it is easier to understand and interpret. That is the reason it becomes a lot more important to factor in the era and the changing times that literature was experiencing at the time.
Traditional forms of writing poetry were often predictable and ambiguous. One was expected to abide by the rules of writing failure to which their work was considered unqualified. But modernist literature allowed poets embrace a style of writing that allowed them to explore language and objects in different personalized and unique way. It is, therefore, not surprising that Sandburg embraces apostrophe. Apostrophe is the ability of the poet to address inanimate objects directly. In this case, Sandburg addresses the city of Chicago as if it was a person. When he uses the term ‘you’ in the lines, “They tell me you are wicked/ And they tell me you are crooked/ And they tell me you are brutal” (Sandburg 6- 9), it shows that he gives Chicago attributes and qualities that are human. Besides the personification of the city, “city of big shoulders” (Sandburg 5), also shows how the city has been given human qualities. Such descriptive language perfectly fits the modernist literary tactic.
The best thing about the modernist era is that it brought a different form of writing that had not been experienced before; many thought that the artistic type of writing could fade, but fortunately, it enhanced it. In as much as many artists felt disoriented and disconnected from the traditional form of writing poetry, they continued to embrace modernism. In the poem, Sandburg says,
“Under the smoke, dust all over his mouth, laughing with white teeth/ Under the terrible burden of destiny laughing as a young man laughs/ Laughing even as an ignorant fighter laughs who has never lost a battle/ Bragging and laughing that under his wrist is the pulse and under his ribs the heart of the people” (Sandburg 25- 29).
One could be mistaken to think that he was talking about a person he was watching when in real sense he was referring to the city of Chicago and describing it from his imagination. I thought so too and upon further reading and reviewing its many interpretations I got to understand he had personified the city.
Carl Sandburg is appreciated and celebrated as a modernist poet and though this poem it becomes s clear that he embraced all aspects of modernist literary devices. The poem is a portrayal of how major cities woke up to the rude awakening of the vices that arose during the industrial revolution. By the use of imagism and apostrophe, one gets to know that Sandburg was a true modernist poet. The literary space had to move away from traditional stylistic form and structure, and through the modernist approach that was achieved. The transition that dawned on the literary space during this time is evidently displayed by this poem.
Work Cited
Sandburg, Car. Chicago. Web. Retrieved on 31st March 2015 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poem/2043
