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Summary Of On The Subway By Sharon Olds

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Sharon Olds is the author of the poem "On the Subway." Sharon is trying to make a historical point of view by showing a contrast between whites and blacks. We see the protagonist of the poem seeing a difference between herself and the stranger. The stranger is different to the protagonist. "Light and Dark" is a contrast Sharon keeps repeating. The reader can imply that the protagonist sees herself over powering compared to the dark stranger with the hoodie. However, in the beginning of the poem we can infer the the narrator is fearful of the stranger because of their appearance. The stranger is black and wearing a hoodie, while looking down. The looks of the stranger cause the fear of the narrator because she thinks that he might be a robber.
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“On the Subway” by Sharon Olds Essay In the poem “On the Subway”, by Sharon Olds, the Author uses descriptive language to vividly depict the contrast of a black and white, With the slight flaw that she is a white female. She also organizes the poem in a way that intensifies the deeper along the poem you get. Lastly there are multiple tone shifts that go along with the organization/scenarios of the poem.

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"On the subway" puts into perspective the contrast between the lives of people of different races. The author, Sharon Olds, develops both characters by vividly describing each character and using analogies to emphasize the contrast between them. As a result of the collision of the two the narrator gains insight into how different people really are. When developing each character, Olds' most useful aids were his detailed descriptions. She describes the person opposite the narrator as a frightening stranger.

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Also, his “cold look/hooded lids” illustrates his sufferings and everyday struggles. In both worlds, it shows how the white is rich and the people who are colored try to survive with what they can afford like the boy wears just red meanwhile Sharon’s fur coat protects her. Moreover, her tone is contradictory as the poem continues. From lines 14-17 the tone is full of fear and vulnerability. Due to this fear and vulnerability, it portrays that Sharon is a woman.

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