Victor Contoski’s poem, Money, tells how money can trick a person. At first, money is great and everyone becomes your best friend because you have it. It seems harmless like a dog, bird, or plant, but then you begin to change and become a greedy person. Contoski’s poem uses imagery through the use of similes and personification to show how money can trick and change a person.
Similes are used twice in the poem. The first time this is used is when the narrator says that money is “like a dog.” Dogs are generally loving and often called a man’s best friend just as money is shown to be. Another simile that is used is when it says that money is “like an amoeba.” I looked up the word amoeba to better understand it and I learned that the word means “change.” I found this to be rather interesting because in the poem money changes. It will no longer be your best friend because it will trick you. Money can also change a person. At the end of the poem it says that it poisons the heart, thus turning the person into a greedy person. An amoeba is constantly multiplying just like money seems to.
Personification appears frequently in the poem. In the second line of the poem it says that money is “willing to be domesticated” just as an animal would be. In the next line it says that money will “nest” in your pocket, which creates an image of a bird nesting comfortably. In line five it says that money will “curl up in a corner.” This gives money the characteristics of that of a dog or cat. Money will “recite” the names of the presidents. The author gives money the characteristics of a person by saying that it speaks. It will “shake hands” and “lick the legs”, once again giving money characteristics of a dog. These two lines show that money will delight the people around you. In line thirteen it says that money “makes love to itself.” I wasn’t exactly sure as to what the author meant by this line. I think that the author may have put this in to give money human characteristics. Another example of personification appears in line seventeen where it says that money “needs exercise”. He is saying that you need to spend the money which will give it “exercise”. The following line says that money needs to be watered and will “repay you with displays of affection”. By “watering” money you would allow it to grow, like a plant, and it would repay you by allowing you to spend more of it. It then describes money by going in for a “kiss” in line twenty-four and then it will “bite” you. The author is saying that at first money will seem as though it is your best friend, but then it will turn on you.
Overall I liked the poem and how it depictes money. It shows you the real side of money and how it does not make a person happy. It seems wonderful at first, but then it changes you into a greedy person. Money can also get a person into a lot of trouble such as debt, and then the money that you once thought was your friend turns on you. The imagery created an image in the reader’s mind of how innocent money appears to be. It allows the reader to better understand evil side of money. It is said that money cannot buy happiness and the author clearly demonstrates this through several literary devices.
Similes are used twice in the poem. The first time this is used is when the narrator says that money is “like a dog.” Dogs are generally loving and often called a man’s best friend just as money is shown to be. Another simile that is used is when it says that money is “like an amoeba.” I looked up the word amoeba to better understand it and I learned that the word means “change.” I found this to be rather interesting because in the poem money changes. It will no longer be your best friend because it will trick you. Money can also change a person. At the end of the poem it says that it poisons the heart, thus turning the person into a greedy person. An amoeba is constantly multiplying just like money seems to.
Personification appears frequently in the poem. In the second line of the poem it says that money is “willing to be domesticated” just as an animal would be. In the next line it says that money will “nest” in your pocket, which creates an image of a bird nesting comfortably. In line five it says that money will “curl up in a corner.” This gives money the characteristics of that of a dog or cat. Money will “recite” the names of the presidents. The author gives money the characteristics of a person by saying that it speaks. It will “shake hands” and “lick the legs”, once again giving money characteristics of a dog. These two lines show that money will delight the people around you. In line thirteen it says that money “makes love to itself.” I wasn’t exactly sure as to what the author meant by this line. I think that the author may have put this in to give money human characteristics. Another example of personification appears in line seventeen where it says that money “needs exercise”. He is saying that you need to spend the money which will give it “exercise”. The following line says that money needs to be watered and will “repay you with displays of affection”. By “watering” money you would allow it to grow, like a plant, and it would repay you by allowing you to spend more of it. It then describes money by going in for a “kiss” in line twenty-four and then it will “bite” you. The author is saying that at first money will seem as though it is your best friend, but then it will turn on you.
Overall I liked the poem and how it depictes money. It shows you the real side of money and how it does not make a person happy. It seems wonderful at first, but then it changes you into a greedy person. Money can also get a person into a lot of trouble such as debt, and then the money that you once thought was your friend turns on you. The imagery created an image in the reader’s mind of how innocent money appears to be. It allows the reader to better understand evil side of money. It is said that money cannot buy happiness and the author clearly demonstrates this through several literary devices.
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