Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Robert Wrigley’s "Economics" explores themes of class, labor, power, and the emotional cost of subjugation in a deeply personal yet universally resonant narrative. Set against the backdrop of a working-class summer job, the poem vividly captures the protagonist’s simmering rage and existential despair as he confronts the structural inequalities and humiliations imposed by wealth and privilege.

The poem’s title, "Economics," immediately signals its focus on systems of value—monetary, social, and emotional. The protagonist learns, not through a textbook but through physical labor, the harsh realities of economic disparity. His employer owns everything in sight: "the tons of concrete," "the farm never farmed but mowed," "the Ford dealership in town," and even the "great white house across the way." This ownership extends symbolically to the employer’s ability to dominate and demean the protagonist, reducing him to a cog in the machinery of wealth generation. The repetition of possessions underscores the extent of the employer’s power, which contrasts starkly with the protagonist’s lack of agency.

Wrigley’s vivid imagery immerses the reader in the oppressive physicality of the protagonist’s labor. The heat is "searing," the air "suffocating," and the bags of cement are "a ton-and-a-half of lifting and lugging." The protagonist’s body becomes a battleground for his emotions—rage, shame, and exhaustion—as he struggles under the weight of both his work and the employer’s condescension. The description of the employer, "soft and flabby," performing "an oafish cannonball" into the pool, further highlights the disparity between the laborer and the leisure class. This contrast is not merely physical but moral, with the employer’s arrogance and sense of entitlement amplifying the protagonist’s sense of injustice.

The narrative pivots on a moment of humiliation: the employer’s kick to the protagonist’s heels and his sneering remark, "You best work, boy, or your whole life’ll be as shitty as today." This act crystallizes the power dynamic at play. The protagonist’s reaction—his instinctive flinch, his clenched fist, and his inward rage—reveals the depth of his resentment and frustration. Yet, he is paralyzed by the knowledge of his vulnerability, unable to retaliate or voice his anger. This internal conflict becomes the central tension of the poem, encapsulating the dehumanizing effects of systemic inequality.

Wrigley skillfully portrays the protagonist’s psychological turmoil through his interactions with others. Returning home, he is repulsed by his mother’s cheerfulness and his father’s "little wink," symbols of complicity or resignation to a system that perpetuates such inequities. Even Sven, the one-armed Swede who works alongside him, becomes a figure of ambivalence. Sven’s attempts at camaraderie—dirty jokes and worldly advice—only highlight the protagonist’s isolation and disillusionment. The boy’s outburst at Sven, though unjust, is an expression of his broader frustration with his circumstances and the apparent futility of resistance.

The poem’s climactic moment occurs in the protagonist’s encounter with the employer’s daughter. Her arrival in a "shiny new car," her smile, and her effortless beauty serve as a poignant reminder of the insurmountable barriers between their worlds. Her wave is both an acknowledgment of his existence and a confirmation of their distance, embodying the unbridgeable gap between privilege and labor. The protagonist’s reaction—his racing blood and the gut-wrenching realization that "she’d come no nearer to him ever in his life"—captures the crushing inevitability of his situation.

The narrative arc of "Economics" mirrors the protagonist’s emotional journey from anger to despair. The poem begins with the raw intensity of his labor and indignation but ends on a note of quiet resignation. This trajectory reflects a broader commentary on the systemic nature of economic and social hierarchies, which not only exploit but also stifle the capacity for resistance. The protagonist’s inability to act—whether through rebellion or confession—underscores the psychological toll of such systems, leaving him trapped in a cycle of shame and impotence.

Wrigley’s use of language is both visceral and evocative, capturing the physical and emotional textures of the protagonist’s experience. The imagery of dust, heat, and labor contrasts sharply with the opulence of the employer’s lifestyle, while the rhythmic intensity of the lines mirrors the relentless grind of work and internal struggle. The poem’s structure, with its seamless flow between narrative and reflection, reinforces its themes, allowing the reader to inhabit the protagonist’s perspective fully.

"Economics" is a powerful exploration of the human cost of economic inequality. Through its richly detailed narrative and emotional depth, the poem invites readers to confront the ways in which systems of power shape individual lives, often with devastating effects. Wrigley’s nuanced portrayal of the protagonist’s internal conflict transforms a simple story of a summer job into a profound meditation on labor, dignity, and the limits of agency in an unjust world.

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