Mr. Z Poem

The poem Mr. Z by Carl Holman has a theme of when people change who they are due to shame others will revert back to the explanations of their race with no consideration of your actions. The tone of belligerent supports this theme because the poet uses his tone toward Mr. Z actions to explain his feelings on the situation. In line five of the poem the author states “Choose prudent raceless views for each situation.” This shows how the poet describes his actions, the poet’s attitude toward Mr. Z is hostile and aggressive, and the way the poet words this line reflects that. The poet is saying that Mr. Z chooses fitting raceless views for every situation because he is ashamed of his heritage and the poet does not agree with that. This line portrays the theme because Mr. Z is ashamed of his skin and now he has to think before he

Z’s actions because he is turning away from his heritage because he is ashamed of his heritage. The poet again shows the tone of belligerent towards Mr. Z’s wife in line fourteen, “His bride had somewhere lost her Jewishness.” The poet says this to show that the wife has changed in order to be like others. This phrase also has irony to it because it shows the difference in how she failed to fit in and now does since she changed herself. This reflects the theme because not only is Mr. Z ashamed of his skin, but his wife is ashamed of her religion and therefore has to change in order to fit in and be looked at like the others. The poet is again not happy with the wife and how she is so willing to change in order to be not be different and the poet does not believe that. The poet finally shows his attitude of belligerence toward Mr. Z’s actions when he says, “the obit writers ringing crude changes on a clumsy phrase: ‘One of the most distinguished members of his race.’” This shows how obit writers forcefully made removed unwanted elements from his life or “phrase” in order to make him sound better towards the