Please Hold Flashcards
key themes of please hold
critique of modern society and reliance on technology - inescapable and provides a sense of restriction
This is the future, my wife says.
repeated use of refrain reminds the speaker of the inescapability of modern life and obedience to its restrictions
use of enstop ends finality and permanence of modern life
The robot is giving me countless options,/ none of which answer my needs
extended metaphor for the false image of freedom of opportunities and choice that are actually limited
what does the phone call in please hold?
the phone call is an extended metaphor for modern life
I give him…I give him
the repetition of the passive verbs depicts the control that modern society has - obeys and surrenders
I shout/ I scream Agent! and am cut off
change in the speaker’s tone shows a brief moment of rebellion and frustration which is hopeless.
exclamatory highlights the futility of his frustration - modern life overpowers
And my wife says, This is the future.
repeated refrain is a reminder of the passive acceptance of modern life that is inescapable
and he is giving me no options/ in the guise of countless alternatives
the structural parallel to his previous beliefs in countless options and allusion of freedom- he is stuck in a cycle of restriction
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik. Please Hold.
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik. Please Hold.
Eine fucking Kleine Nachtmusik.
The repetition suggests the restriction of modern life on arts and music - has made it generic and meaningless, it is inescapale/cyclical
and my translator says
translator is symbolic of his own inner voice reminding conforming to the reliance and control of modern tech life
the only way you can now meet your needs/ is by looting
suggests the consequences of non-conformity to modern life - seen as criminal and deviant
Please hold. Please grow old. Please grow cold.
Please do what you’re told. Grow old. Grow cold.
This is the future. Please hold.
(final stanza)
the final stanza includes short sentences/ caesura and monosyllabic language which turns the speaker’s voice to a more robotic tone
indicative of his final surrender and conformity to modern life z
