Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

John Davidson, known for his realistic and often pessimistic views of life, uses his poetry to probe deep into social realities. "Thirty Bob a Week" is an example of his work that masterfully illustrates the struggles of a lower-middle-class clerk living on a meager salary. The provenance of this poem lies in the gritty realities of early 20th-century England, where financial hardship was rife among the working classes. Davidson himself faced monetary struggles throughout his life, which might have informed his sympathetic portrayal of the clerk's struggles.

The context of "Thirty Bob a Week" rests within the socio-economic realities of its time. The poem's speaker, a clerk earning a scanty thirty shillings a week, speaks to the hardships faced by many in the workforce. Despite the laborious efforts to make ends meet, he contends with a life of limited means, symbolizing the broader struggles of the working class during this period.

From a thematic perspective, "Thirty Bob a Week" explores themes of class struggle, poverty, individual responsibility, and the human capacity for resilience. Davidson employs irony, using the speaker's relatively upbeat tone and sometimes humorous language to underline the harsh reality of his circumstances.

The poem follows ABAB rhyme scheme, giving it a rhythmic quality that mirrors the speaker's relentless struggle. This rhythmic pattern, coupled with the colloquial diction, gives the poem a conversational tone, as though the speaker is engaging directly with the reader.

Davidson's use of colloquial language, including phrases like "blooming world" and "bally power," contributes to the realism of the poem and builds a connection between the speaker and the reader.

Davidson employs potent metaphors throughout the poem. The speaker describes himself as "a mole journeying in the dark," symbolizing his struggle within society's confines. The description of life as "a naked child against a hungry wolf" and "playing bowls upon a splitting wreck" further illuminates the speaker's precarious existence.

Davidson uses repetition effectively to emphasize the speaker's financial struggle. The refrain "thirty bob a week" recurs throughout the poem, serving as a constant reminder of the speaker's meager earnings and the central problem he faces.

Alliteration, such as in "made of flint and roses," and "greens and sod," adds rhythm to the verse and draws attention to the speaker's descriptions of his wife and himself, respectively. It emphasizes the contrast between their characters - his wife's tough yet lovely nature and his own down-to-earth sensibility.

In "Thirty Bob a Week," Davidson does not shy away from the harsh realities of life for the working poor. Rather, he portrays them with honesty, humor, and empathy. He skillfully uses metaphor, colloquial language, repetition, and alliteration to evoke the speaker's world and bring his struggles to life. The poem serves as a powerful critique of the social and economic conditions of its time, resonating with readers by connecting them to the speaker's plight.

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