Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"SOS," by Kenneth Fearing, is a satirical commentary on the commodification of individuals, particularly women, in a consumerist society. Using the language of emergency signals and mass media, Fearing creates a portrait of a woman reduced to a collection of superficial traits that become the subject of public speculation and obsession. The poem explores the tension between individuality and conformity, and how the pervasive influence of advertising and gossip shapes public perception.

The poem opens with a sense of urgency: "It is posted in the clubrooms / it is announced in bright electric lights on all the principal streets, it is rumored, proclaimed, and radio'd out to sea." The repetition of "it is" creates a rhythmic insistence, mimicking the repetitive nature of media broadcasts. The "clubrooms," "principal streets," and "radio'd out to sea" suggest that the message is being disseminated through every available channel, emphasizing the ubiquity of the message.

The repeated "SOS, SOS" introduces the idea of an emergency signal, implying that the information being spread is of critical importance. However, the subject of this signal is trivial: "that her hair is all dark and her eyes are all blue." This contrast between urgency and superficiality sets the tone for the rest of the poem, highlighting the absurdity of the public's obsession with the woman's appearance.

Fearing continues to detail how this obsession permeates every aspect of society: "On the busses, at the beaches, in the parks / total strangers are saying, as though they really knew / that she prefers cork tips, likes a rather dry sherry, does not really care for tea." The phrase "total strangers are saying, as though they really knew" underscores the disconnect between public perception and reality. People discuss her preferences with unwarranted authority, revealing how gossip and media shape opinions without a basis in fact.

The repetition of "SOS, SOS" reinforces the idea that the woman's superficial characteristics are being treated as an emergency, and Fearing lists various aspects of her life that have become public knowledge: "that her hats, that her gowns, that her wraps, that her shoes, that her gloves, that her flowers / and her past, and her present, and her future, and even her maiden aunts." This exhaustive list demonstrates how every aspect of her life is scrutinized and dissected, leaving nothing private or sacred.

Fearing then describes "the way she walks, the things she says and does" as being "all about right / all dead right and dead against the law." The phrase "all about right" suggests that she conforms to societal expectations, but "dead against the law" introduces a note of irony, hinting at the double standards and moral judgments imposed on women.

The poem's climax comes with the repeated declaration that "her eyes are blue, blue for miles and miles and miles." Here, Fearing uses hyperbole to emphasize the absurdity of reducing a person to a single characteristic. The repetition and rhythm create a hypnotic effect, reflecting how the media can amplify and distort trivial information.

The final "SOS, SOs / blue across the country and away across the sea" expands the reach of the message to a global scale, suggesting that the obsession with superficial traits has become a universal phenomenon. The deliberate misspelling of "SOS" in the second repetition introduces a note of irony, perhaps implying that the signal is being misinterpreted or corrupted in the process of dissemination.

Structurally, "SOS" employs repetition and rhythm to mimic the relentless and pervasive nature of media broadcasts. The poem's satirical tone exposes the absurdity of reducing individuals to mere commodities and highlights the dangers of a society obsessed with appearances.

In "SOS," Kenneth Fearing critiques the commodification and objectification of individuals in a consumerist society. By using the language of emergency signals and mass media, he reveals how superficial traits are amplified and distorted, creating a distorted public perception that overshadows individuality. The poem serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of resisting societal pressures to conform and of valuing people for who they are, rather than how they appear.

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