"Preludes" takes place mostly in a city, one with a diverse economic classes. You have the people who are too poor to afford curling irons and the business people who don't have time to notice the rest of humanity. Neither class is portrayed as better than the other; the poor have souls filled with sordid images and the rich are too busy to pay attention to their own consciences. It's a lose-lose. In the end, we all face ethical struggles, and this poem suggests we are too busy (and filled with unsavory thoughts) to notice.
Questions About Society and Class
- How does the speaker indicate their opinions about society?
- What clues tell us that we are witnessing an impoverished area of the city? What clues tell us we are in the business district?
- What members of society have the hardest time being noticed? Why?
- Does the speaker indicate being part of a higher class brings people more happiness? Why or why not?
Chew on This
The different classes portrayed in the poem may have different struggles, but neither seems to come out on top. Everybody hurts.
In the end, the business of daily life leaves everyone too busy to notice their conscience. (Wake up out there, people.)