Syntax Disruption: A Modernist Critique on Capitalism

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The use syntax disruption, which is a modernist convention, emphasizes how Olsen truly feels about capitalism. Olsen embraces modernist conventions through the use of syntax disruption in order to challenge the capitalist system of the Western culture. Paul Lauter, whose article notes the conventions of modernism, says that modernism is about willing “to disrupt syntax and form...in order to challenge the audience’s preconceived notion of value and order” (Lauter 887). As Olsen describes the classical beauty of the scene where women are suffering at the sight of the mine accident, she proceeds to mention that the companies have classified the mine accident as an “Unavoidable catastrophe…(O shrink, super’s nephew, fire boss that let the gas …show more content…

As I describe the classical beauty of Andy’s body now that he has lost a leg in one of the accidents at the coal mine, I proceeded to write that the super’s nephew has announcement of him ‘“Leaving the mine to go to college’”. I decided to quote “Leaving the mine to go to college” because I wanted those words to be the exact words that the super’s nephew uses to announce his departure, the same way Olsen did when she quoted “unavoidable” because that is the word that the coal mining company used to describe the mine accident on page 29. The same way that the company was able to claim the coal mine accident as “unavoidable” because of the power granted to such companies under capitalism, the reader can perceive that someone as irresponsible as the super’s nephew is granted the opportunity to go to college because of social and economic status as the super tenant’s nephew of the coal mine. This advantages granted among the rich are important to the overall meaning that Olsen is trying to convey because it shows that a socialist system is required in order to bring equal opportunities among society. After the super’s nephew’s announcement, I proceeded to use ellipses and parentheses to finally break the sarcasm used throughout the passage …show more content…

As part of the of the American Communist party, Olsen shows the horrors of capitalism and how it is creating a greater inequality among the citizens instead of benefiting all citizens equally. Based on Olsens’ background with the Communist party, it might even be implied that she prefers a more socialist system in order to prevent the industries and big corporation from obtaining the power to abuse their workers in order to obtain a higher

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