Dead Water Literature Review

Audience

The poem is pretty difficult to interpret, so to understand. Wen Yi-Tuo did great in hiding the main purpose of the text. In result, some readers can be quite confused about the true symbolisms of words pertained in his text. After reading the text, readers may have marked questions in their minds. The literal essence of the text, however, gives a willful impact to readers. Since the dead water is defined in an emotional and somehow relatable manner, empathy can be felt. It takes about double to triple time re-reading the text to gradually come across its intention. Audience may felt disturbed but after sorting out what the messages point, they will conclude something unexpected or maybe, still complex in their eyes.

Formalism

The language used is formal. The meter of the poem is a bit consistent. There are no rhymes observed, meaning, it is freetyped. The poem uses symbolisms to describe people. It uses figurative speeches of comparing and exaggeration. The structure is arranged in five stanzas, and each stanza consists four sentences. 

Marxism

The social conditions of what is defined in text are enumerated. The Dead Water pertains to underprivileged people. Based on its title, you can form a hint that 'dead' also means 'lack of chance'. Poor people can't stand in society via their own. They do not stood a chance. Instead, they are criticized by the powerful. At times, powerful people use the weaknesses of the poor ones (since the former have lots of privilege and material gain). The poem described the dead water as ugly and unacceptable for those who may come across it. We can see the situation at our modern society now that spreads throughout time since the rise of society division in history. There is no special treatment for those who aren't wealthy. The poem said, "Might as well let the devil cultivate it." Since the society wants to get rid of them, they can't hold of anything so at times, they have no choice but to do bad deed.