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Louisa Wimbush

Poetry Comparison Coursework

The two poems “Nothing’s Changed” and “Two Scavengers in a Tuck, Two beautiful people in a Mercedes” both describe a divided society. In Nothing’s Changed the division is of a racial nature and in Two Scavengers the division is of a class division. Nothings Changed is more personal and is more emotional because it is written in the first person, compared to Two Scavengers were the poem is set in a few seconds frozen in time and is more of an observation.

The Poem “Nothings Changed” is written by Tatamkhulu Afrika, set in District 6 in the time of the Apartheid system in Africa. The apartheid system was a system of racial segregation and control of non-white people in pre-democratic South Africa. Apartheid means ‘separate development’ it caused all the districts in South Africa to be divided in to colour, ‘black’ of ‘white.’ Meaning people had to move out of their homes even if they were happy living with other racial colours, and move to their ‘colour’ zone. A lot of the meaning in this poem is conveyed through the attitude expressed towards its subject; that ‘Nothings changed’ and that he has lost all hope that things will change.

The poem is set in District Six after the apartheid system was abolished. The person in the poem (Tatamkhulu Afrika) is going back to the district he used to live in, until the apartheid system was introduced and District Six turned into an all white area, causing him to have to move from his home. The poet returns to the wasteland that was once his home, and relives the anger he felt when the area was first destroyed. The poem shows how despite the changing political situation, there are still inequalities between the whites and blacks e.g. “working man’s cafe” for the blacks and the new restaurant with “haute cuisine” for the whites. Nothing has really changed.

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The first two verses of the poem is setting the scene and exploring the diverse contrasts between the rough and rugged landscape and the clean, new and expensive buildings, which have been built out of place for the whites. The landscape suggests symbolic significance to how the narrator feels and behaves. In the first stanza the poem creates an imagery of the landscape. The weeds are surviving and growing in the harshest conditions; but managing to survive even though the elements are against them. This is how the narrator felt, he had been thrown out of his home and banished by law that he; because of his colour was not allowed back in. He had been treated so unjustly; he’s survived through it all no matter what has happened to him; just like the weed. Also the weeds are “trodden on,” which is how he feels. The narrator feels like the government is walking all over him because of his race. Also the language in this verse, e.g. “ trouser cuffs cans” The alliteration emphasises the harsh situation using blunt syllables and continents. This first verse describes it as wasteland with weeds and dry, hard ground that it uncomfortable to walk on. In the wasteland that is being described in considerable depth, it says that the only thing breaking up the desolate wasteland is the tall “purple – flowering,” weed. There may be symbolic meaning behind the colour purple, which stands for gloom and sad feelings. It can cause frustration, which is how the narrator feels. The first verse is setting the scene so we can envisage the landscape and get an initial idea to how the narrator feels.

In the second verse, the first stanza is sharp and bold. It just says “District 6”as if it is a sign or a notice; maybe even a warning. Stating simply the fact simply that it’s District 6, but also that it’s District 6, which is a white area not for blacks. However the next stanza says that “No board says it is:” This is meant to be ironic because there is no notice. It is written like this because it suggests; that the narrator knew it was for the whites only as clearly as if there was a sign there. Even though times have changed and there is no sign, saying so anymore. But the prejudice is still there, that won’t go away. So he, as a black is still not “allowed in” The narrator states that he can sense that he is not welcome what ever the law states. “but my feet know, and my hands….” At the end of this verse, the reader see’s the first part showing just how angry the narrator is; how is anger is “hot, white, inwards turning” his anger is towards all the white people, but because he can’t express it, it’s inward turning. His anger is so strong that it’s white hot, and its white because its against all the white people. The anger is stressed using enjambment