Globalization and literature: Laila Lalami's Hope and other dangerous pursuits or when the writer is docile

The ​title is from Macbeth, where Macbeth states ‘Out, out, brief candle… ‘
referring to the fragility of existence, extinguishing life, a well known metaphor in Western society. Life is sniffed out easily

the hyphen represents a moment of hesitation or interruption, mirroring the sudden and tragic event that occurs in the poem

when it concerns the heart, i think the fact that it’s related to the child is interesting. this is because as i said the heart means identity, and when we talk about a child’s heart we think about curiosity, intituituion, and mostly purity.

The work I’m going to present today, is ‘Out, Out-’ by Robert frost. The poem is short, it’s only like 30 lines long, but it packs a powerful punch. As a summary: "Out, Out-" narrates the story of a boy whose life is abruptly cut short by a tragic incident. his arm becomes entangled in a buzzing saw, resulting in the loss of his hand and ultimately his demise So, I believe the brevity of the poem to be intentional, as it underscores the suddenness and unexpectedness of the boy's death.

The thesis I'm going to discuss is not a groundbreaking one but it’s important nonetheless : Capitalism is a profit-driven system which erodes empathy and reduces individuals to mere disposable laborers

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Arguments:

1. Capitalism tends to view everything as a commodity to be bought and sold, including essential goods and services like healthcare, education, and housing. The absence of a name for the boy in the poem is an example of that. By reducing him to an anonymous figure, the poem suggests how people can be reduced to mere statistics or disposable laborers, valued solely for their economic productivity rather than their intrinsic worth as human beings.

2. The line "And from there those that lifted eyes could count / Five mountain ranges one behind the other / Under the sunset far into Vermont" 

The emphasis on the mountain ranges and the sunset portrays a serene and breathtaking scene, symbolizing the beauty and tranquility that exists beyond the realm of work and profit. However, the bystanders in the poem are too preoccupied with their work to appreciate it fully. this is in the line ‘those that lifted eyes’. so, This depiction of their preoccupation with labor highlights how the relentless demands of capitalism can consume people's attention and prevent them from experiencing the beauty and serenity of the natural environment. so, capitalism creates a sense of apathy even when it comes to engaging with the natural aspects of the world.

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3. “And the saw snarled and rattled, snarled and rattled, As it ran light, or had to bear a load.”: The repeated snarling and rattling of the saw in the poem can be seen as a metaphor for the relentless and intense nature of the capitalist system. It symbolizes the constant pressure and demands placed on individuals within this system, regardless of the toll it takes on their well-being. This relates to the boy in the poem who gets caught in the machinery of capitalism, and becomes a victim of this system's relentless demands, ultimately leading to his tragic fate.

Furthermore, the line "As it ran light, or had to bear a load" reflects the varying circumstances or conditions under which the saw operates. so,. When the saw runs "light," it suggests moments when individuals experience relatively manageable workloads. This could represent periods of respite or lesser intensity in terms of productivity and output.

However, when the saw has to "bear a load," it signifies the heavier and more demanding workload that individuals face. This represents the times when individuals are subjected to intense pressure and expectations to produce, often at the expense of their well-being.

So, whether individuals experience lighter or heavier workloads, ultimately, the relentless pursuit of productivity and profit will take precedence over a person’s well being.

4. "Call it a day, I wish they might have said To please the boy by giving him the half hour That a boy counts so much when saved from work”

this implies that in a capitalist society, individuals are often driven by the need to fulfill their own responsibilities and meet their own obligations within the system. The constant pressure to work, produce, and maximize profit can leave little time and energy for addressing the needs of others, even when there is a sense of empathy.

so, In this context, the lack of immediate assistance from the bystanders can be seen as a consequence of the capitalist system. So, while they might  genuinely feel bad for the boy and recognize the importance of his well-being, their own immersion in this profit-driven culture limits their ability to prioritize his needs and diminishes their sense of empathy and social responsibility.

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 5.“ His sister stood beside him in her apron To tell them ‘Supper.’ “:

While the sister's intention may be to ensure that the family is fed, the focus on supper in this context reflects a prioritization of sustenance over the well-being and fatigue of the boy, which are seen as secondary. It implies a lack of consideration for his physical and emotional needs, emphasizing that within capitalism individuals are mere  laborers whose needs and desires, whatever they might be, will always be secondary to productivity.

Furthermore, the portrayal of the sister in her apron highlights the influence of societal expectations and gender norms within a capitalist framework. While capitalism itself doesn't create or enforce gender roles, it operates within an existing social structure that has assigned specific roles to men and women.    

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