Comparing Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska And A Letter From Phillis Wheatley

Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska, and Robert Hayden’s A Letter from Phillis Wheatley are both examples of Dramatic monologue. Dramatic Monologue is a sub-genre of poetry which find their place in between lyric and dramatic poetry (Mays 857). These poems often aim to tell a sometimes fictional story, while in other times based on the author’s views and outlooks on the given subjects. These poems are similar in the way that they are written in another person’s point of view and their sequent varying emotions throughout the events detailed in each poem.
Springsteen’s dramatic monologue poem Nebraska is actually a song included in one of his many studio albums. The main theme of those songs being community. Because of the way
Springsteen conveys

“real-life meditations on philosophical topics and questions” (Dieser 52) some philosophy professors argue that he is, in his own way, a modern-day philosopher. As described by Dieser“”Nebraska” is a philosophical and penetrating meditation on the connection of crime and evil when people live with no sense of community or belonging (the titular first song is a historical overview of the life of a mass murder Charlie Starkweather)” (Dieser 52).
Nebraska entails the story of a criminal and his implied girlfriend, and partner in crime, whom are eventually caught and sentenced to death. The poem is told from the criminal’s point of view, which is morally skewed. Even as he is being strapped to the electric chair he has no remorse for his actions and only states “Well, sir, I guess there’s just a meanness in this world” (Mays 858) when he is questioned about why he committed his many crimes.
Contrastingly Robert Hayden’s dramatic monologue tells the story of Phillis through a letter to Obour, who was an intimate friend of hers. She was a slave whom was bought by a Boston merchant, by the name of John Wheatley. She was later sent to London with Wheatley’s son, Nathaniel. Where she was able to meet with Selina Hastings, the Countess of Huntingdon, whom aided in getting Phillis’s 1st book of Poems published. Yet while attending supper with the Countess and her other guests, she “dined apart like captive royalty” (Mays 859). While Phillis was granted great opportunity in having her works published, she was still but a slave in the eyes of those who aided her in her literary endeavors. Her discomfort and poise is further described by Wright who states “the sable Muse holds tears and outrage in check with exquisite syntax and diction […]” (Wright 155). Even with the treatment she receives, she remains polite despite this, and goes on to talk of matters of God and her improved health since she arrived in England.
Both Nebraska and A Letter from Phillis Wheatley illustrate a narrative story about persons with capricious internal emotions and the ways that they dealt with them. Nebraska leans more toward making less than wise choices and untimely facing the consequences. While Phillis in A Letter from Phillis Wheatley keeps her composure and sows positive outcomes overall. A reader’s preference of either a fiercely well-mannered protagonist or a morally detached antagonist might have a great deal in deciding which poem they prefer. However A Letter from Phillis Wheatley stands out as it portrays a black woman, once a slave, make her way past the obstacles of her time and find her way as a poet.