Matthew Martin Mrs. Santo English 2201 22 November 2016 Happiness in Marriage is in the eyes of the Beholder In the book “Thomas and Beulah,” the author Rita Dove tells a story by use of poetry about a man and woman who meet, get married, and live their lives together. The story gives us a unique insight into both of their minds at the same time with 23 poems devoted to Thomas’s’ viewpoint in the book, “Mandolin,” and 21 poems written in Beulah’s’ viewpoint written in “Canary in Bloom.” The story is about two people meeting, getting married, having kids, and living for the most part average, uneventful lives full of eventful desires. The book describes the thought process of both Thomas and Beulah in regards to the same events, and shows that even though they are married, they …show more content…
Rita Dove brilliantly designed subtle differences throughout the plot that magnify the differences with which Thomas and Beulah view the world. She particularly applies gender roles in the titles of each poem, which subconsciously shows us how the character’s sex influences the way information in processed. Emily Walker states that the titles of poems in “Mandolin” “Bears a masculine, aggressive, demanding feel, borne out in the titles of the poems. Titles such as “The Event,” “Satisfaction Coal Company,” and “Thomas at the Wheel” provide the reader with an early and clear sense of Thomas' dominance and responsibility.” (Walker Galegroup.com) These titles give us the subconscious indication that Thomas fits the masculine niche, which is a strong leader, and head of the