On The Subway Analysis

In the poem “On the Subway” written by Sharon Olds, two different are being described on how society sees them based on their race. Sharon Olds describes them with traditional stereotypes with the use of tone and imagery, to differentiate yet connect the two of them. On the subway the narrator comes across a young man who is very different. The boy had large feet and had the face of a mugger. He was wearing red while the narrator wore dark fur. She watched as he “looks at her fur” trying to figure out if she was “in his power”. The young man can take her fur coat, briefcase and even her life. From the start the narrator felt threatened by the boy from what she believed he was capable to do based on the color of his skin. She then turns