TEXT RESPONSE ESSAY MEMORIES OF WEST STREET AND LEPKE
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"Memories of West Street and Lepke" by Robert Lowell shuttles back and forth between the comfortable life Lowell has in Boston during the 1940's and the time he spent in jail for being a conscientious objector. This poem is very much about memories, age, reminising, learning and social awakening.
Stanza one gives the reader a chance to see Lowell's life during the 1940's in Boston in Boston. Lowell appears to be cosy, comfortable, domestic and free as he "hog(s) a whole house" in Boston on the "hardly passionate Marlborough Street". This image gives us the impression that Lowell has a subtle discomfort with his well off and accommodated position. He does this by using sarcasm, therefore showing us that although the area is of high class it is lacking emotion, colour, interest and even life. Lowell once again uses a sarcastic tone whilst telling us about how "even the man scavenging filth in the back alley trash cans, has a two children, a beach wagon, a help mate and is a young republican", therefore creating a juxtaposition of a 'bum' who is recourse rich in material things. The poet then goes on to speak about his age in relation his daughter as "she is young enough to be (his) granddaughter. This links us to the second stanza as well as the overall reflective mood of the poem.
During stanzas two and three Lowell talks about receiving his jail sentence and why...