Subway of Stereotypes

[nancy_lazar1]

"On the Subway" by Sharon Olds is a short little poem all about stereotyping. One could even classify this poem as a short story. The whole point of this poem shows that the world likes to stereotype. This angers me more than anything. Basically, this woman gets on a train and sits down. A few minutes later, she finds herself staring at the face of

Comments

Stereotypes

[caparker418]

I agree that we need to stop stereotyping. But I tend to think Sharon Olds wasn't trying to perpetuate the act. To me, it seems like she was trying to point out that it happens in attempt to start a conversation which might make us more aware how we see others and react. Olds doesn't say that the black boy is homeless or a beggar. She does say "He has the casual cold look of a mugger." (7-8).