In the poem “Talking to Arthur” by Jack Myers, the voice is sitting at a party listening to a man that lost everything for moral fortitude only to discover the paradox of choice.
Setting the Tone
At the onset of the poem the voice is dismissive because it states that it is “stuck here at a party” (1). The voice sets the tone through careful diction with the word “stuck” emphasizing an attitude of negativity. The negativity builds as the voice mentions it is “listening to Arthur complain” (1). The character of “Arthur” refers to the epigraph where the poem is set up as homage to a dead man, Arthur Feldman, and since the line ends with “complain” it further educes the negative tone. Parties are often portrayed as fun and exciting, but the voice is not having a good time.
Wisdom with Age
“Arthur” states he has reached an “age” where “nobody knows anything” (2). Line 2 seems to suggest that with age and wisdom comes the knowledge of how little one actually knows which could be considered antithetical to the mindset of youth where all answers seem within reach. “Arthur” elucidates “about his daughter who told him to go to hell, / mind his own business, which he explains he’s retired from” (3-4). Interestingly, the voice that at first seems apathetic remains intent on listening and this irony is paralleled flawlessly with the irony of “Arthur’s” retirement. In answer to losing the love of his daughter “Arthur” remains outwardly humorous because it seems to be out of his control. Did Arthur not see glimpses of “hell” when his daughter shunned him?
Social Reflections
Lines 5 and 6 focus on an image of “Arthur” “wearing a pair of those glaring state trooper sunglasses / that reflect the sun and make whoever you’re talking to look tiny”, and coincidentally it is the voice that is being minimized because of the reflective lenses. The voice continues listening and “lying to him to be nice” (7). The ambivalence of the voice allows it to remain socially acceptable and polite while inwardly skeptical.
Stoicism through Adversity
The voice explains that Arthur has “gone from $180,000 a year onto Social Security, / got fired because he exposed his boss for taking bribes” (9-10). “Arthur” has seen comfort and discomfort, but he does not become enraged and he continues “talking quietly about his ruin” (11). The ability to remain sane in the face of adversity is a major theme throughout the poem. “Arthur” is undaunted by his own plight, simply taking it all in as if “half-hidden / by gusts of smoke from the barbecue, as if nobody’s listening” (11-12).
Reflecting on Relaxation
Continuing on “Arthur” “finally takes off his glasses and relaxes”, but in conjunction to the relaxation comes a realization when voice notices “that filmy blue color old people get across their eyes / just before they die” (13-14). Without the reflecting lenses to make the voice “tiny” the voice paradoxically begins to feel as if it is “getting smaller and smaller” seemingly shrinking away from mortality (15). Irony again plays the role of life because oftentimes in life the intended result is not the actual result. The final line is highlighted by “Arthur” saying, “’Whadda ya gonna do?’” (16).
The Best Intentions
What is anyone going to do when throughout life the best intentions often yield the worst results? “Arthur” tried to live admirably and blow the whistle in the face of “his boss”, but the result was his financial undoing because it landed him on “Social Security”. Life is a complex beast that eats people alive, but it seems that maybe the best medicine is to follow what is right and live with the consequences no matter how dire they may be because “’Whadda ya gonna do?’” Batter up!
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