Let's workshop this poem about a man, characterized by fetishism and severe dissociation, looking back on a crime he carried to heinous extremes due to his struggles to keep more than a semi erection
"Why Must He Write from the Third Person?" by Michael Anthony Istvan Jr. is a stark and unsettling piece that delves into the psyche of a character grappling with the horrors of their own actions. The poem’s exploration of disturbing themes such as sexual violence, obsession, and the disassociation necessary to cope with one’s atrocities is both powerful and deeply troubling. Istvan employs the third person to create a distance between the narrator and the protagonist, which serves to highlight the protagonist’s inability to confront their own reality directly.
The opening lines, "Cliché arson could not hide / the rape bungle," immediately set a dark tone, indicating a failed attempt to cover up a heinous act through destruction. The use of "cliché arson" suggests a worn-out or predictable method, implying that the protagonist’s actions are not only criminal but also unimaginative and desperate. The mention of a "rape bungle" points to an unsuccessful or incomplete attempt at sexual violence, adding to the sense of chaos and failure surrounding the protagonist.
Istvan’s choice to describe the protagonist’s desires as "his sashimi on a hentai platter" brings a disturbing element of fantasy into the mix. Hentai, a genre of Japanese animated pornography, indicates the protagonist’s warped sexual fantasies and the detachment from reality. The imagery of the protagonist needing to "roll his exchange sister’s finger for laptop access" is both grotesque and pathetic, illustrating the lengths to which he goes to fulfill his perverse desires. The use of "kana keys" emphasizes the foreignness and the cultural specificity of the situation, while the hyoid crush at the end starkly portrays the violent climax of the protagonist’s actions.
The phrase "open-layup airball" at the poem's conclusion brings a jarring juxtaposition of sports imagery with the violent act described. An "open-layup airball" signifies a missed opportunity in basketball, a moment of failure in an otherwise easy situation. This metaphor serves to underscore the protagonist’s incompetence and the ultimate futility of his actions. The use of such an everyday sports term in the context of violence adds a layer of surrealism and detachment, reinforcing the protagonist's dissociation from his own actions.
The poem’s title, "Why Must He Write from the Third Person?", poses a critical question about the necessity of detachment in narrating such a story. By writing in the third person, the protagonist distances himself from the reality of his deeds, reflecting a psychological need to disassociate from the guilt and horror of his actions. Istvan's choice to frame the narrative in this way allows readers to see the protagonist’s internal conflict and denial more clearly, making the horror of the situation even more palpable.
In "Why Must He Write from the Third Person?", Michael Anthony Istvan Jr. explores themes of violence, fantasy, and psychological detachment with a raw and unsettling intensity. The poem’s vivid imagery and stark language confront readers with the disturbing reality of the protagonist’s actions, while the third-person perspective underscores the disassociation and denial inherent in the character’s psyche. This piece stands as a powerful commentary on the darkness that can reside within the human mind and the lengths to which one might go to avoid facing it directly.
Why are you so disgusting?
"Why Must He Write from the Third Person?" by Michael Anthony Istvan Jr. is a stark and unsettling piece that delves into the psyche of a character grappling with the horrors of their own actions. The poem’s exploration of disturbing themes such as sexual violence, obsession, and the disassociation necessary to cope with one’s atrocities is both powerful and deeply troubling. Istvan employs the third person to create a distance between the narrator and the protagonist, which serves to highlight the protagonist’s inability to confront their own reality directly.
The opening lines, "Cliché arson could not hide / the rape bungle," immediately set a dark tone, indicating a failed attempt to cover up a heinous act through destruction. The use of "cliché arson" suggests a worn-out or predictable method, implying that the protagonist’s actions are not only criminal but also unimaginative and desperate. The mention of a "rape bungle" points to an unsuccessful or incomplete attempt at sexual violence, adding to the sense of chaos and failure surrounding the protagonist.
Istvan’s choice to describe the protagonist’s desires as "his sashimi on a hentai platter" brings a disturbing element of fantasy into the mix. Hentai, a genre of Japanese animated pornography, indicates the protagonist’s warped sexual fantasies and the detachment from reality. The imagery of the protagonist needing to "roll his exchange sister’s finger for laptop access" is both grotesque and pathetic, illustrating the lengths to which he goes to fulfill his perverse desires. The use of "kana keys" emphasizes the foreignness and the cultural specificity of the situation, while the hyoid crush at the end starkly portrays the violent climax of the protagonist’s actions.
The phrase "open-layup airball" at the poem's conclusion brings a jarring juxtaposition of sports imagery with the violent act described. An "open-layup airball" signifies a missed opportunity in basketball, a moment of failure in an otherwise easy situation. This metaphor serves to underscore the protagonist’s incompetence and the ultimate futility of his actions. The use of such an everyday sports term in the context of violence adds a layer of surrealism and detachment, reinforcing the protagonist's dissociation from his own actions.
The poem’s title, "Why Must He Write from the Third Person?", poses a critical question about the necessity of detachment in narrating such a story. By writing in the third person, the protagonist distances himself from the reality of his deeds, reflecting a psychological need to disassociate from the guilt and horror of his actions. Istvan's choice to frame the narrative in this way allows readers to see the protagonist’s internal conflict and denial more clearly, making the horror of the situation even more palpable.
In "Why Must He Write from the Third Person?", Michael Anthony Istvan Jr. explores themes of violence, fantasy, and psychological detachment with a raw and unsettling intensity. The poem’s vivid imagery and stark language confront readers with the disturbing reality of the protagonist’s actions, while the third-person perspective underscores the disassociation and denial inherent in the character’s psyche. This piece stands as a powerful commentary on the darkness that can reside within the human mind and the lengths to which one might go to avoid facing it directly.