Compare and contrast the lives of the people, in the poems 'Chicago' and ' Garden City. '
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Answer:
In the poem 'Chicago,' Carl Sandburg lists many of the qualities that the city of Chicago has, both industrial and aesthetic. He notes some of the jobs that go on in Chicago and describes the city as 'stormy, husky and brawling,' or in other words, loud, big, busy and full of action.
After this, he addresses critics of the city by answering their concerns. He admits that Chicago has its issues; people call Chicago 'wicked,' 'cruel' and 'brutal,' and he admits that in some ways, it is. He acknowledges that the issues of prostitution, murder, hunger and a legal system that does not always work the way it should, exist in Chicago.
However, Sandburg ends by countering the bad that Chicago must deal with by sharing the things that he finds great about Chicago. He says that he will 'sneer' at anyone who sneers at his city because it is vibrant and alive. He loves the majesty of building a city and he loves the work of the people who build the neighborhoods and skyscrapers. He characterizes Chicago as 'young' and 'ignorant,' which means that even though it is flawed, it also is vibrant and growing into something healthy and mature.