“America” by Tony Hoagland is one of the poems about materialism that shows two sides of the coin. In this work, he uses metaphors and deeper meanings to explain his thoughts, but not in an obvious way. Most of the things the author writes in this poem are figurative. However, every line of the poem is full of exciting analogies and illustrations.
One of the prevalent techniques Hoagland uses throughout the poem to explain his point of view is the metaphor, precisely the extended metaphor. He compares America to a “maximum security prison” and a “thick satin quilt” (Hoagland). What the poet is trying to explain is that things that comfort people, can make their lives their prison. It feels incredibly safe and warm, but it is still jail. Another thing he uses is he equates blood to money. Using this comparison, Hoagland claims that money became so vital for Americans that it ran through veins instead of blood.
The poet portrays his last big concern through the extended metaphor of the river which means TV. The poem’s last line is: “And yet it seems to be your own hand, which turns the volume higher?” (Hoagland). The author tells the reader that somebody is drowning underneath, and Americans are just watching TV and turning the volume higher not to hear about other people’s problems.
This poem reveals the truth the way it really is. Especially these days that the world lives in when wars happen, destroying people’s homes and taking away their lives. The war not only destroys people but also ruins the economics and interconnections of other countries, every American needs to understand the price of their comfort. It is crucial to value the peaceful life somebody doesn’t have and not take everything for granted.