What prejudice can do to people and the importance of working together , that you understand from the poem "The Cold Within"
Answers
Prejudice is a negative and destructive thought that sets in motion a chain reaction of negative and unpleasant events. Working together is a wonderfully synergistic phenomenon. It is a creative activity that creates something new and beneficial.
The poet has beautifully highlighted the negative aspect of prejudice through the poem. Cold Within is symbolic of lack of warmth and compassion in human relations. This lack exists at all levels: personal, family, social, etc. Most of the problems in the world exist because of this lack of warmth. In place of the warmth there is the cold of hatred, animosity, suspicion, and prejudices, and ill-will in every human's heart.
This world would have been a real paradise if this ill-will were not there. All the wars, holocausts, ethnic-cleansings, terrorist attacks, etc. were the outcome of this ill-will only. Ill-will is much more deadly than the deadliest nukes; for nukes are also the product of ill-will.
In the poem, The Cold Within, the poet has beautiful portrayed prejudices in men trapped in bitter cold. None of them offered their wooden log to keep the fire burning because they harbored prejudices against one another. This led to the death of all.
So, we see how dangerous and insidious prejudices are for mankind.