Telephone Conversation Essay Example

gold rolled cigarette holder pipped" suggests that she is wealthy and sophisticated. The speaker admits to being caught in the silence of the landlady's response, describing it as "foully caught". This suggests that the speaker has done something wrong and is now being caught in the act of committing their crime.

The poet demonstrates the irrationality of racism by inducing guilt and remorse in the speaker based on their skin color. The woman's curt inquiry about the darkness of his skin stuns the poet, as he finds it difficult to comprehend such a question. Instead, his bitterness leads him to focus on his immediate surroundings - the unpleasant odor of the public booth, the telephone buttons, the telephone booth itself, the pillar box, and the omnibus. In England, red is typically used to signify public services, but even as the poet describes these objects, we sense the intense crimson fury behind his words.

The poet is dumbfounded by the rude question and asks for clarification, which he describes as a "shamed surrender." The landlady repeats her question, emphasizing the color tone. The poet sarcastically refers to her as "considerate," implying gratitude for her demeanor, but also highlighting her shallow and judgmental racism. The poet responds to the absurd question with a sarcastic reference to dark and milk chocolates. The landlady's need for clarification is seen as calculative, inconsiderate, and insulting in its impersonality.

The poet instantly understands the tone of the conversation and abandons all pretense of politeness. In response to the situation, the poet chooses to reciprocate rudeness. Referring to their skin color, the poet sarcastically describes it as "West African Sepia," mimicking the words used in

a passport description. The poet mocks the landlady's attempt to comprehend by comparing it to the operation of a spectroscope, as if she had such a device in her mind. The landlady's voice loses its refinement and forcefully hits the receiver as she bluntly admits to not understanding.

The poet has portrayed the persona of an African origin and the landlady of Western European society. However, the landlady is struggling to comprehend even this basic description, while the poet's vocabulary establishes his high level of education. This exchange highlights the noticeable disparity in their levels of knowledge and education, revealing that beneath the landlady's extravagant appearance, she is merely a superficial bigot.

The poet effectively turns the tables on the racist landlady by taking control of the conversation and defending his ethnic identity with dignity and integrity. To convey this, the poet deliberately confuses various hair colors associated with major European ethnicities, suggesting that despite being African, he is no different from any European. The poet bluntly describes his body art, where some parts have been bleached and others have been darkened through friction. This crude description aims to belittle the polished and racist landlady. As the landlady slowly but furiously realizes she has been outwitted, the poet senses her reaction and sarcastically asks if she would prefer to see for herself. The poet's somewhat polite tone masks the ultimate insult, expressing his indignation as he cleverly outwits her by inviting her to see his bottom. This humorous ending adds a layer of sarcasm to the poem.The poet uses a dark African persona to demonstrate their ability to confront and retaliate against racial discrimination. By showcasing a

situation where the persona gains an advantage over their landlady, the poet delivers a powerful message: individuals with dark skin are just as intelligent as those with lighter skin.