Shaving Poem Analysis

As one begins to face life challenges, one’s maturity is put to the test. In the story, “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst, the speaker allows his ego to rise above him which ultimately causes the death of his brother. On the other hand, the speaker in “Shaving” by Leslie Norris acknowledges that his father is dying maturely steps up and takes his father’s role in the family. The speaker in Edgar Allan Poe’s poem, “Annabel Lee,” has an immature response towards the death of his loved one and cannot cope with the reality of the situation. The speaker in each work has to rely on their maturity to lead them through the hardships life has to offer. All three authors make clear that maturity drives one’s ability to cope with life’s challenges. While the speaker in

When Poe’s speaker states,” For the moon never beams without bringing me dreams of the beautiful Annabel Lee,” he demonstrates that he obsesses over his late lover even after her death. Likewise to a child, the speaker struggles with understanding the harsh reality of death. By expressing that there is not a day that goes by without the speaker thinking of Annabel Lee he demonstrates that he is still not at peace with her passing. The speaker does not possess that maturity to move past the situation and constantly lives in agony reliving the loss of Annabel Lee. In the same way, when Hurst’s speaker states, “I remember doodle,” he demonstrates that he thinks of his brother after he died. Because it was his actions that killed his brother, the speaker lives with a burden on his mind, and he, just like Poe’s speaker, has to live everyday with the continuous reminder of his brother’s death. The speaker feels guilty of his actions and is unable to live beyond the experience. Neither of the writers’ speakers has enough maturity to repress the constant memories and are not able to cope with their loved one’s