Thursday, October 14, 2010

Irony in "Lonely Hearts"

"Lonely Hearts" is set up like a newspaper ad which contains various requests for love in this poem. In each stanza, someone is asking for something different in a partner. The first seeks fun and adventure, the next companionship, followed by someone interesting, Jewish, and finally Libran. These requirements become rather picky and likely hard to find. However, despite the involvement of each description, each ends with the question, "Can someone make my simple wish come true?" I find it ironic that the speakers call their desires simple when in fact they are rather picky. If it were really a simple request they would be open to anyone from any background or upbringing. Hobbies or religion would not matter and love would be the only necessity if it were truly a simple request.

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