Exploration of Family Relationships in The Sick Equation, Looking For Dad, and Long Distance

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Exploration of Family Relationships in The Sick Equation, Looking For Dad, and Long Distance

Analysing the poems "The Sick Equation" and "Looking for Dad" by Brian

Patten, it can be observed that both texts share the theme of loss,

family relationships and separation. Another poem with this theme is

"Long Distance " by Tony Harrison.

In these poems, the writers' feelings and emotions are similarly

conveyed through their use of linguistic devices and techniques.

Although the poems are alike in theme and meaning, the situations,

language, style and structure are very different.

The poem "The Sick Equation" relates how the poet missed out on so

many opportunities with love in his life, as a result of the influence

that his parents' crumbling relationship has had on him. After

experiencing his parents' unhappy marriage as a child, he became

convinced that every relationship would end up in conflict, misery and

hurt. He therefore denies and rejects any love that comes his way.

The poem is written in free verse and every alternate line rhymes.

Gaps between verses are used to emphasise the passing of time. This

reflects how the poet's feeling change in each verse. This particular

structure is effective, because it allows it to be more emotional; if

it were to rhyme, the emphasis would be more on the words, thought and

feelings of the poet.

In the first line, Patten states the obvious: "In school I learned

that one and one make two". The poet is saying that as a child, you

learn the basic rules of love: that one person and another make up a

relationship. However, he then says: "Parental hate is where I learned

that one and one sta...

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...oem. It is like a confession: he tells his father he realised he

could not cope with the reality of her death, admits he looked down on

his father at the time for this and confesses that he now cannot

totally accept his father's death and his way of coping is to ring his

number.

All three poems share the theme of reaction to loss of a loved one and

how people find something or someone to blame for their loss: the

little boy blames himself in "Looking For Dad", the man blames love

for its "sickness", in " The Sick Equation", and the son blames his

dad for not being able to accept his wife's death in "Long Distance".

Although the poems share similarities, "Looking For Dad" stops at his

childhood experience, "The Sick Equation" is a resume of his emotional

life and "Long Distance" is a description of two years of grief.

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