Poetic Reflections on Urban Monotony in Atwood and Boey's Works

In the poems “The City Planners” by Margaret Atwood and “The Planners” by Boey Kim Cheng, the poets delve into the theme of sameness and the mundane nature of contemporary urban and suburban existence. This exploration focuses on how planned environments insulate individuals from the spontaneity and challenges of daily interactions with the natural world. Each poet employs distinctive strategies to convey these themes, with Atwood relying on vivid imagery and Boey utilizing extended metaphors, showcasing their unique perspectives on urban development and its impact on humanity.

Poet Backgrounds

Margaret Atwood, born and raised in Ottawa, Canada, witnessed the evolution of her city. Born in 1939, her perspective reflects disdain for the identical houses in suburbia, finding them visually offensive due to their lack of uniqueness. On the other hand, Boey Kim Cheng, born in Singapore in 1965, grew up amidst rapid urban development. His poetic expression in “The Planners” reflects the impact of such progress on the landscape he knew. The contrast in their backgrounds adds depth to their poetic critiques of planned environments.

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Title Analysis

Both poems bear the definitive article "The," implying importance and singularity in the controlling force behind urban planning. This force, referred to as "The Planners," suggests an influential, organized group dictating the monotony explored in the poems. The titles not only serve as a thematic prelude but also set the tone for a discussion on uniformity and lack of creativity.

Structural Analysis

Examining the structure of "The City Planners," Atwood employs two long stanzas followed by brief ones, foretelling a future of homogeneity in housing estates.

This structured approach reinforces the notion of sameness, aligning with the poem's overarching theme. Similarly, Boey Kim Cheng adopts a parallel structure in "The Planners," supporting the poem's exploration of planners who control and create with a clear, deliberate structure.

Imagery in "The City Planners"

Atwood's use of vivid imagery in "The City Planners" creates an uncomfortable and intimidating atmosphere. Phrases like "pedantic rows" and "planted sanitary trees" convey a suburban environment that is not only perfect in appearance but also stifling in its expectations of perfection from its inhabitants. The sanitized, germ-free suburban world depicted alienates individuals from the randomness of nature, cutting them off from the vibrant energy of life.

Extended Metaphors in "The Planners"

Boey Kim Cheng takes a different approach, employing extended metaphors in "The Planners." His use of mathematics and applied sciences, such as "spaces are gridded, filled with permutations of possibilities," suggests the vast possibilities envisioned by "The Planners." The metaphor of bridges hanging in the grace of mathematics symbolizes the perfection and precision they seek in their creations. Cheng also employs a medical sciences metaphor, describing how "Planners" knock off useless blocks with "dental dexterity," portraying their meticulous approach to shaping the city as a dentist would fix teeth.

Language Devices in Both Poems

In both poems, linguistic and structural devices effectively convey the theme of sameness and the blandness of suburban living. In "The City Planners," the personification and simile, "the planted sanitary trees, assert … like a rebuke to the dent in our car door," create discomfort and intimidation. The suburban environment, both in appearance and the people who inhabit it, is portrayed as unnervingly perfect. Boey Kim Cheng, in "The Planners," uses language to suggest that the creators find comfort in sameness, with phrases like "knock off useless blocks with dental dexterity" reinforcing the notion of perfecting the city's form.

Nature vs. Urbanization

Both poets explore the disconnection from nature caused by planned environments. In "The City Planners," Atwood refers to the suburban world as "sanitized" and "germ-free," reflecting a deliberate escape from the challenges and randomness of nature. The power mower, symbolizing rationality, further signifies the suburb's attempt to tidy up and control nature. Boey Kim

Cheng, in "The Planners," describes the sea and sky surrendering to man's industrialized actions, emphasizing how even the forces of nature succumb to urban progress.

Conclusion

In conclusion, these poems employ different poetic strategies to communicate their shared critique of urban monotony. Atwood's "The City Planners" relies on powerful imagery to convey the discomfort and intimidation inherent in the perfect suburban environment. In contrast, Boey Kim Cheng's "The Planners" utilizes extended metaphors to depict the meticulous and calculated approach of those shaping the city. Together, these poems provide a nuanced exploration of the impact of urban planning on human connection with nature, emphasizing the monotony that arises from the pursuit of perfection.