Step by step...

First step; Realizing we are condemned. Second step; make changes.

The main purpose of this essay is showing how influent and important, Literature applied in the classroom, can be in social changes. Literature is one way through which human beings can realize and critic the way society works and lives. W. H. Auden was a famous Anglo American poet born in England but later naturalized American. He wrote a poem called September 1, 1939. In this poem, Auden dealt with a lot of elements that society in those times suffered related to the way that people lived and the system worked. Even though, Auden was a poet from the Second World War times, he perfectly may be considered a poet from these times. In fact, September 1, 1939 is a very good example of this idea, because he reflected on the way people lived and tried to give some hope to the readers. From my point of view, this poem is fatalist but I think this is not a bad characteristic or connotation of the poem, because when we realize that there is a problem, we can solve it. My intention whit this essay, is to analyze some phrases of the poem in order to support the idea of a “condemned society” that still has hope to change in a good way. I strongly believe that students need to face controversial poetry, as Auden wrote with September 1, 1939, in order to promote critical reflection and encourage active participant in the changed world we need. These participants need to be the ones who believe in that change, they have to think that is it possible. So, Literature and controversial poem can help teachers to promote critical reflection and social commitment in our students.

As a starting point, I consider important developing one idea found in the poem. Auden presented,
“I and the public know what all schoolchildren learn,
Those to whom evil is done
Do evil in return.”

Bearing in mind this extracted piece of the poem, I would say that is extremely related to teachers’ labor. Do we teachers really know what are schoolchildren receiving as education? Perhaps, this question may be seen as something to broad and without a correct answer. Anyway, I suggest the idea of teachers being part of this possible answer. Nowadays, we see schools “educating” students in order to be useful for the system. For this reason, I think education today is being based on Capitalism. Rarely, we can see teachers or schools that promote teaching values or elements that students will need in the future to be good citizens. According to Kenneth Minoque, “Capitalism is what people do if you leave them alone”. From my perspective, this quotation is related to the idea of individualism. Individuals are now numbers that do not have to speak up, the less they talk the better. If we teachers do not promote students speaking up what they think, and reflecting on world’s issues, they will become useful robots for the business that society is creating. On the one hand, we have teachers that just give information to their students. This information is not processed or reflected because it is imposed. On the other hand, we need teachers that consider students as people who have something to say. Pupils are not only for listening what we, teachers, have to say. If we want them active learners of critical thinkers we need to give them the space they need. Being a good citizens should be understood as the person who help others because is the right thing to do.

All the ideas present in the poem are characterized by a negative perspective. However, W. H. Auden also gave us some hope through the poem when he claimed,
“We must love one another or die”

In such a way, the author is giving us some hope with this quotation. From my view, he is saying that “love” seems to be the only way in which we can escape from this condemned reality. The kind of “love” that Auden mentioned is not determined. So, we cannot say he is only talking about love between men and women. Thus, we have to consider that this phrase was the one which did not allowed the poem being published. This is why, we can infer that the author is nor limiting “love”. He is referring to homosexual love, friends’ love, family love, etc. Based on this, we can start thinking what kind of element love involves. For sure, love needs more than one participant to take place, this is why if we love someone we try to show that love in different ways. In the same way we need to live together and collaboratively to love others.

As a way conclusion, I can say that changes come step by step. First we have to realize what is wrong with the way we live, and then start making changes. It is for sure that in today’s world everything is controlled by money. This is why materialism, individualism and capitalism take place. As teacher s, we need to use Literature as a tool that opens student’s minds and eyes. Educators are very important in the social field, and the influence we can achieve playing a good role seems to be enormous. These needed changes are not something easy to get, but if we believe in change we can start changing society’s thoughts that are wrong. Keeping in mind the image of teachers as people who can inspire students, we can start thinking about Tupac Amaru Shakur’s thoughts. Tupac Amaru Shakur was an African-American singer (rapper). He was always fostering his followers making changes in the world including all the minorities and respecting others. He claimed, “I'm not saying I'm gonna change the world, but I guarantee that I will spark the brain that will change the world". This is a very good idea that teachers can make part of their life in order to improve our life styles little by little. I suggest this is the way that teachers have to think, because we teachers inspire and we can start making changes in students’ minds. I propose a final question inviting teachers to reflect. Have you thought how influent can be teachers in society’s assumptions and changes?

Finally, I wanted to share some Tupac’s quotes that made me reflect a lot in the way we are living now. In my opinion, Tupac Shakur and Auden were controversial and reflective artists that invited us to reflect. You think about this paying attention to these quotations;

- "I am society’s child, this is how they made me, and now I’m saying what's on my mind and they do not want that. This is what you made me America."
- "If God wanted me to be quiet he would've never showed me what he does."
- "They got money for wars but they can't feed the poor."
- "My Mama used to tell me if u can't find something to live for, you best find something to die for"


work cited:

http://depts.washington.edu/pswrite/grading.html. Dec 3, 2009.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_1,_1939. Dec 3, 2009.
http://en.proverbia.net/citastema.asp?tematica=156. Dec 3, 2009.
W. H. Auden. September 1, 1939. October 18, 1939.
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/685/01/. Dec 3, 2009.
http://www.numberonestars.com/tupacshakur/tupacquotes.htm. Dec 3, 2009.
http://www.wordreference.com Dec 3, 2009.