< Thomas Rhodes

Thomas Rhodes

"...self-contained, compact, harmonized..."

Poem Summary:

Thomas Rhodes talks about how the people in Spoon River could have prevented their hard times. He compared people in Spoon River to liberals, navigators, sailors, Margaret Fuller Slack, Petit, and Tennessee Claflin Shope because they found with all their boasted wisdom how hard at the last it is to keep the soul from splitting into cellular atoms. He also says that seekers of earth's treasures, getters and hoarders of gold are self-contained, compact, and harmonized even to the end. In this poem you are not told what Thomas does for a living, but in other poems you are told that Thomas is a bank owner or has something to do with the bank because people are always worrying about paying him on time.

Relationships:

His son is Ralph Rhodes who causes the collapse of the bank. George Reece works for him and goes to jail because of the collapse of the bank.

Historical/Literary Analysis:

There are no historical or literary allusions in this poem. There are also no similes in this poem. There are a couple of metaphors in this poem. They are found in the lines: "...you liberals and navigators into realms intellectual, you sailors through heights imaginative, blown about by erratic currents tumbling into air pockets, you Margaret Fuller Slacks, Petits, and Tennessee Claflin Shopes, you found...how hard at the last it is to keep the soul from splitting into cellular atoms." The quotes are metaphors of the people who are always changing their minds because of what other people say and end up doing something they regret so badly, they begin to fall apart emotionally and financially." While we seekers of earth's treasure, getters and hoarders of gold are self-contained, compact and harmonized." That quote is a metaphor for people who are always trying to find news ways to make more money and those who don't like to spend their money. They are cool, calm, and always prepared for a rainy day. This poem has no rhyming or rhythmic words. It tells how Thomas Rhodes feels about money. The poem is the exact way Thomas would talk if he were a real personn.

Character/Societal Analysis:

Thomas Rhodes represents the upper class. He wants every one to be self-contained, compact, and harmonized like him so that they do not have to worry about their financial problems forever. If more people followed his example, no one would need loans, go bankrupt, or borrow money from friends anymore.

By
Fanny Agbanyim

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