Williams Carlos Williams - The Raper from Passenack - Jenna Pelosi

William Carlos Williams – The Raper from Passenack, pg. 640
There are a few distinct reasons as to why I chose to go into detail on this poem. This poem brings familiarity when I read into it, not because I have been sexually assaulted in the past, but because of how much this topic is of importance, especially in the life of a woman in college. The poignancy within each line in this poem is remarkable. After the fact, the girl is worried of catching a disease. “No one who is not diseased could be so insanely cruel, he wants to give it to someone else” (Williams, pg. 640). Not only is the situation already horrific, but to top it off with a disease would be so damaging to this girl’s life. Her life, in her mind, would be over. “But if I get a veneral infection out of this I wont be treated, I refuse, you’ll find me dead in bed” (Williams, pg. 640). The speaker would end her life because of the actions of another human being. That is poignant in ever way. However, its poignancy , in my perspective, is quite more sharp because I am able to relate to this person. Because I am a woman, I am always at risk of being sexually assaulted, especially in New Haven late at night, leaving a bar. God forbid, that ever happened to me or someone I knew, I would feel the same way, that my life was completely over. That is poignant and acute in its emotional sense. How would I be able to help a friend and give her reasons to stay alive, when I cant find any myself in that situation. Its poignancy is so strong to me, because this is something I have always feared, being attacked and so on, therefore I am able to place myself in the speakers shows as I read, and I am able to find myself through the words on the page.