What’s
inside the metal drum? : A critical analysis using feminism of the poem “The
Conversion” by J. Neil Garcia.
The discrimination of girl-hearted man inflicts
acceptance. In the past generations,
they believed that a man being born biologically as a boy should act
masculinity while a woman should act femininity. In that perception, I do believe
that gays and lesbians are exist already yet endured and transgender that time
are not yet introduced because of poor technology: maybe those are some of the factors
why they can easily conceal who they really are, should I say, during those
times we should act appropriately and accordingly to our biological sex. In the
poem made by J. Neil entitled “The Conversion”, he was able to open up the
readers’ eyes on how gay is discriminated from family’s and relatives refusal
to rumors in the society, they believed that being gay is a scourge just like
an epidemic. Specifically, the metal drum that I’m referring to is a place
where the persona from the story of the poem got metanoia− a change in mind, from
gay he was forced to decide to change by abusing him for what the people
surrounds him wanted him to be for the best of him where was his father’s belief
that if he became straight man he will be accepted in the community, he
belongs. This critical analysis is discussing about the gay part of the persona
in the poem inside the metal drum where the conversion happened from gay to
straight man, we can say now that, this is anti-feminism because the feelings
of the girl part of the persona was not given an importance, not fought and
came with discrimination and denial. Also, the poem implies that a man have
more power that woman and no equity in terms of roles, aptitude and rights.
In the poem itself we can realize by reading then
analyzing on how could we say that the gay was being discriminated and why this
poem became anti-feminism. He was suspected by others based from his actions
that he is a gay causing rumors spreading to all the people in their community
together with his relatives, it hurts (from the lines of the poem 13-16). By
just showing or acting who you are, others got issues at once. Those times,
it’s too hard to socialize if you are different from them. Stated from the
lines of the poem 21-38, what’s the process of the diversion and how he was
being abused by his own father to change him forcefully. In particular, he was
dragged by his father down the stairs by his hair, his father always kept
booming, his father and his uncles punched him, bore him and drowned him in a
metal drum full of water. All this happened to him, to the persona, even just
the solution is acceptance but no one can be blamed if that is their culture
and belief. Since we are tackling about anti feminism, after he was converted
from gay to straight man, the proof of his manhood, transition is showed just
like his father did to him, he has more power to discriminate his wife, he has
order a lot, he hurt her, and his wife has more household chores and
responsibility to do to his children while he is enjoying miserable life, as
specified in the lines from the poem 47-63.
The poem is anti-feminism because what’s inside the metal
drum is an act or process of diversion, the conversion, but who is inside the
metal drum is the girl side of the persona who experienced discrimination,
anguish and life without love from others just him. The girl inside the metal
drum needs sympathy and help if not too late before she decided to stay and let
the boy’s freedom to live and came to more tragic situation. Also, the poem is
anti-feminism regardless my point of view, I agree that there is an equity and
equality between man and a woman. I just want to give emphasis the manners,
culture and the impact of being gay in the society during this generation. I do
believe that it has a relation why gays now are easily accepted than before. The
belief of the people that surround us especially our love ones affects the
decision we will make though we didn’t want it, we will do it, we will be the
one to adjust but fighting for who we are, for what is right is more
enthusiastic for us. Don’t think about how other people see you or think about
you as soon as you’re comfortable then go live life to the fullest supporting someone
who wants to bloom and fly without discriminating them.
