'A Literary Analysis Of Tom Wayman In Love'

“Wayman in Love” by Tom Wayman discusses the intrusion of the societal gaze into the intimate lives of people’s romance in a humourous way. He uses alliteration and the use of humor to express the abhorrent aspects of “societal gaze” on economics and personalities, in relationships. Wayman reflects this serious issue through the alliteration of Karl Marx and Sigmund Freud. Karl Marx represents the economic judgments. For the cost of the relationship, Marx states that a lot of things are at stake: “...we have the price of the mattress, this room must be rented, your time off work, groceries for two, medical fees in case of accidents…” (Wayman 13-15). Although these concerns have a trivial importance to Wayman and his girl, Marx continues to nag on the couple, just like how poor relationships receive backlash and
Since the poem does not have any consistent meter patterns or rhymes, it tends to follow the rhythm of natural speech. The free verse structure of the poem allows Wayman to write the poem in a humorous way; as if he was personally telling the story to the readers. This natural speech makes this serious matter of societal judgement comical. He purposefully chose this structure because the poem will leave a lasting imprint in the reader's’ mind through its humor. As a result, the readers will be able to understand and be aware of the problems present in this poem.
People believe that they have the right to be studying everything and everyone, to be aware of everyone’s personal life and relationships. Love is not considered to be sacred; only the amount of money and power a relationship has is sacred. The intrusion of societal gaze into the intimate life of human beings and their lives is one of the most appalling aspects of the modern society. Through “Wayman in Love”, Tom Wayman speaks for the common man: “‘Doctor, please,’ Wayman says. ‘All we want is to be left alone.’” (Wayman