'Buying Stock' by Denise Duhamel
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"...The use of condoms offers substantial protection, but does not
guarantee total protection and that while
there is no evidence that deep kissing has resulted in
transfer of the virus, no one can say that such transmission
would be absolutely impossible."
--The Surgeon General, 1987
I know you won't mind if I ask you to put this on.
It's for your protection as well as mine--Wait.
Wait. Here, before we rush into anything
I've bought a condom for each one of your fingers. And here--
just a minute--Open up.
I'll help you put this one on, over your tongue.
I was thinking:
If we leave these two rolled, you can wear them
as patches over your eyes. Partners have been known to cry,
shed tears, bodily fluids, at all this trust, at even the thought
of this closeness.
Anonymous submission.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Buying Stock: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Are you ready for a wild ride? Strap in, because Denise Duhamel's poem "Buying Stock" is a rollercoaster of cultural commentary, satire, and witty wordplay. This poem is not for the faint of heart; it tackles everything from consumerism to gender roles to the American Dream. But if you're up for the challenge, let's dive in.
Overview
"Buying Stock" is a long-form poem consisting of 11 sections, each with its own title. The poem is written in free verse, with no set rhyme or meter, but Duhamel's use of repetition and enjambment give the poem a sense of momentum and urgency. The poem's speaker is a woman who is on a mission to buy stock in various companies, hoping to make a profit and achieve financial stability.
Section 1: "Buying Stock in AT&T"
The poem opens with the speaker discussing her desire to buy stock in AT&T, a telecommunications company. She describes the process of buying stock as "like shopping for shoes," suggesting that consumerism has become a way of life in America. The speaker's decision to buy stock in AT&T is motivated by her desire to be "a part of something big," to feel like she has a stake in the corporate world.
Section 2: "Buying Stock in IBM"
In the second section, the speaker turns her attention to IBM, a computer company. She describes the company as "a man's world," suggesting that the tech industry is dominated by men. The speaker's decision to buy stock in IBM is motivated by her desire to challenge this gender imbalance and to prove that women can succeed in the tech industry.
Section 3: "Buying Stock in General Electric"
In the third section, the speaker discusses her decision to buy stock in General Electric, a conglomerate that produces everything from light bulbs to jet engines. The speaker describes the company as "the heart and soul of America," suggesting that General Electric is a symbol of American ingenuity and innovation. The speaker's decision to buy stock in General Electric is motivated by her desire to be a part of this American Dream.
Section 4: "Buying Stock in Coca-Cola"
In the fourth section, the speaker describes her decision to buy stock in Coca-Cola, a beverage company. The speaker describes Coca-Cola as "a global addiction," suggesting that consumerism has become a worldwide phenomenon. The speaker's decision to buy stock in Coca-Cola is motivated by her desire to profit from this addiction and to be a part of a global brand.
Section 5: "Buying Stock in McDonald's"
In the fifth section, the speaker turns her attention to McDonald's, a fast food company. The speaker describes McDonald's as "the purveyor of cheap thrills," suggesting that fast food has become a substitute for real pleasure in American culture. The speaker's decision to buy stock in McDonald's is motivated by her desire to profit from this culture of instant gratification.
Section 6: "Buying Stock in Microsoft"
In the sixth section, the speaker discusses her decision to buy stock in Microsoft, another computer company. The speaker describes Microsoft as "the king of software," suggesting that the tech industry is dominated by a few powerful players. The speaker's decision to buy stock in Microsoft is motivated by her desire to be a part of this power structure.
Section 7: "Buying Stock in Merck"
In the seventh section, the speaker turns her attention to Merck, a pharmaceutical company. The speaker describes Merck as "the dealer of drugs," suggesting that the pharmaceutical industry has become more concerned with profit than with healing. The speaker's decision to buy stock in Merck is motivated by her desire to profit from this culture of prescription drug dependency.
Section 8: "Buying Stock in Exxon"
In the eighth section, the speaker discusses her decision to buy stock in Exxon, an oil company. The speaker describes Exxon as "the gas guzzler's delight," suggesting that Americans' dependence on oil has become a destructive force. The speaker's decision to buy stock in Exxon is motivated by her desire to profit from this destructive force.
Section 9: "Buying Stock in Intel"
In the ninth section, the speaker turns her attention to Intel, yet another computer company. The speaker describes Intel as "the master of the chip," suggesting that the tech industry has become increasingly focused on hardware rather than software. The speaker's decision to buy stock in Intel is motivated by her desire to be a part of this hardware-centric culture.
Section 10: "Buying Stock in Pepsi"
In the tenth section, the speaker describes her decision to buy stock in Pepsi, a beverage company that competes with Coca-Cola. The speaker describes Pepsi as "the other white meat," suggesting that consumerism has become so pervasive that even competing brands are interchangeable. The speaker's decision to buy stock in Pepsi is motivated by her desire to profit from this culture of brand loyalty.
Section 11: "Buying Stock in McDonald's (Part 2)"
The poem ends with the speaker revisiting her decision to buy stock in McDonald's. She describes the company as "the downfall of civilization," suggesting that consumerism has become a destructive force. The speaker's decision to buy stock in McDonald's is no longer motivated by a desire for profit; instead, the speaker seems to be questioning the validity of the entire concept of buying stock.
Interpretation
So what does it all mean? At its core, "Buying Stock" is a critique of American consumer culture. The poem suggests that Americans have become so obsessed with buying and selling that they have lost sight of what truly matters. The poem's speaker is a product of this culture, motivated solely by her desire for financial gain. But as she buys stock in each company, she begins to realize that each of these companies represents something problematic about American culture.
Through her descriptions of each company, Duhamel critiques everything from gender inequality to prescription drug dependency to oil dependence. But these critiques are not heavy-handed; instead, Duhamel uses humor and satire to make her points. For example, her description of McDonald's as "the purveyor of cheap thrills" is both funny and pointed.
Ultimately, the poem suggests that our obsession with consumerism is leading to the downfall of American civilization. The fact that the poem ends with the speaker questioning the validity of buying stock suggests that there may be no way out of this destructive cycle. But by critiquing this culture with humor and wit, Duhamel suggests that there is hope for change.
Conclusion
"Buying Stock" is a complex poem that tackles a wide range of social and cultural issues. Through her descriptions of various companies, Duhamel critiques everything from the tech industry to prescription drug dependency. But despite the heaviness of these themes, the poem is never dull or didactic; instead, it is full of humor, satire, and clever wordplay. So if you're up for a wild ride, give "Buying Stock" a read.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Buying Stock: An Analysis of Denise Duhamel's Classic Poem
Denise Duhamel's poem "Buying Stock" is a witty and insightful commentary on the world of finance and the stock market. The poem is a satirical take on the idea of investing in the stock market, and it uses humor and irony to highlight the absurdity of the whole concept. In this article, we will take a closer look at the poem and explore its themes, structure, and literary devices.
The poem begins with the speaker announcing that she is going to buy stock in a company. She is excited about the prospect of making money and becoming rich. However, as she begins to research the company, she realizes that she knows nothing about it. She tries to learn more by reading financial reports and talking to experts, but she still feels lost. She is overwhelmed by the complexity of the financial world and the jargon that is used to describe it.
The poem is structured in a series of short, fragmented lines that mimic the disjointed and confusing nature of the financial world. The lines are often interrupted by dashes, which create a sense of hesitation and uncertainty. The poem is written in free verse, which allows Duhamel to experiment with different rhythms and sounds. The poem is full of puns, wordplay, and allusions, which add to its humor and wit.
One of the key themes of the poem is the idea of risk. The speaker is aware that investing in the stock market is a risky proposition, but she is willing to take the chance in order to make money. She is willing to put her faith in the experts and the system, even though she doesn't fully understand it. This theme is highlighted in the lines "I'm willing to take a chance / on the experts, the system, the whole / shebang."
Another theme of the poem is the idea of power and control. The speaker is aware that the stock market is controlled by a small group of people who have the power to manipulate it. She is also aware that the information that is available to the public is often incomplete or misleading. This theme is highlighted in the lines "I know the market's rigged / but I'm willing to play along / with the big boys."
The poem also explores the idea of language and communication. The financial world is full of jargon and technical terms that are difficult for the average person to understand. The speaker struggles to make sense of this language and feels excluded from the conversation. This theme is highlighted in the lines "I don't speak the language / of the stock market / but I'm willing to learn."
Duhamel uses a variety of literary devices to create a sense of humor and irony in the poem. One of the most effective devices is the use of puns and wordplay. For example, the line "I'm willing to take a flyer / on a company that's flying high" is a pun on the word "flyer," which can mean both a risky investment and a plane ticket. Another effective device is the use of allusions. For example, the line "I'm willing to take a chance / on the experts, the system, the whole / shebang" is an allusion to the TV show "The Whole Shebang," which is about a man who invests in the stock market.
In conclusion, Denise Duhamel's poem "Buying Stock" is a clever and humorous commentary on the world of finance and the stock market. The poem explores themes of risk, power, language, and communication, and it uses a variety of literary devices to create a sense of humor and irony. The poem is a reminder that the world of finance can be confusing and overwhelming, and that it is important to approach it with caution and skepticism.
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