Brooklyn CopNorman McCaig's Brooklyn Cop is a poem that explores the theme of violence, a theme that has the potential to affect us all. This theme is explored by McCaig, writing about a Brooklyn cop and the daily dangers he faces. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayThe poem is about a cop who works in Brooklyn, New York, known for being a rather violent society, thus doing work being a cop there is even harder than being a cop elsewhere. The fact that every work day represents a life-threatening situation for him is omnipresent throughout the poem, as are the fierce, tough, and unyielding characteristics of this Brooklyn cop, all of which are necessities for him to be able to fulfill its functions. The physical description of the cop leaves the reader in no doubt as to his aggressive appearance. McCaig uses the simile in the first line of the cop being "built like a gorilla". This immediately gives the reader the image of the huge and very intimidating cop, which is again a necessary characteristic for a man with such a job. Images of him possessing the qualities necessary for his dangerous job continue when his skin is described as "thick, steak-colored flesh." This gives the reader the image of a stereotypical red-faced person, someone who gets angry easily and has a short temper. Again, the ruthless and unstable characteristics are included in those that would be required for his job, when dealing with the kind of criminals he has to deal with on a daily basis. The cop's eyes are cleverly described as "two hieroglyphs...means trouble." This metaphor implies that the cop is very difficult to understand and is difficult to read. Again, this is a key trait for the cop as it gives him a clear advantage over his criminal opponents when facing them in one-on-one situations. The fact that they "want trouble" also shows that he is intimidating and suggests that the glint in his eyes alone would be enough to strike fear into even the toughest criminals. Consistent with the cop's appearance, his job, by its very nature, is potentially violent. He risks his life daily and this is clear from his words to his wife. Before leaving for work, he said "see you soon baby", it is then said that "he hoped so, he really hoped so". This repetition of "hoped" emphasizes the fact that he actually hoped because he was fully aware that he could be killed on the job and that such a scenario was not improbable. He really hoped that he would spend another day in the violent society he watched over and that he would be able to see his wife again. The phrase “hiya darling” is something that many American men would say to their wives on a regular basis. and my friends that it had become a cliché and that it was said out of habit. However, with the Brooklyn cop in question, that wasn't the case because when he told his wife, he was actually thrilled that he had managed to do it because it meant he had survived another extremely dangerous day trying to eradicate it. some of the violence within his patrol. We're told the cop "walks the sidewalk and thin fabrics in the face of violence." The metaphor of describing civilized society as a thin tissue above violence implies that there is a violent society "beneath" or within all civilized societies and that this violence is so close to us that theCivilization and violence are separated only by a “thin tissue”. . The reader thus becomes aware of the violence that coexists with all civilizations. This metaphor is particularly effective in that the word "fabric" has connotations of something that breaks easily and as the violence is described as being "underneath" this "fabric", the implication is that anyone can falling into this violent society, whether or not they are victims or perpetrators of violence, it has the potential to affect us all. The use of an extended metaphor in verse two serves to emphasize the fragility of maintaining this peace. The potential to be affected by violence is brought up again when McCaig speaks of the "tearing of the tissue" which concerns the police officer who pierces this thin and fragile tissue, when a violent situation breaks out and he is suddenly called into a potentially very dangerous situation. in order to be the guardian of peace. His fall through this web is described as a “dive” which has connotations of non-hesitation on the part of the cop into the new and unknown dangers that lurk beneath this web between civilization and violent society. The fact that he has no hesitation shows that he knows what he must do to complete his work of eliminating violence from society, which is nevertheless a never-ending task. Different locations on the cop's route are mentioned, including "Phoebe's, Whamburger, and Louie's Place." All of these locations are used by McCaig to establish the setting because they are all very typically American names, and that is of course where this violent underworld is depicted. The use of wham in Whamburger is an example of onomatopoeia used to add effect as it gives the effect of violence being committed as it is the sound that can be made when someone or something is hit by someone. 'one in a violent way. This fits with the theme of the poem and is another way McCaig emphasizes that violence surrounds civilized society. The repetition of "what" before "clubbing" and "gunshots" helps to emphasize the force and scale of these two acts of violence, thus relating once again to the theme of violence so important within the Company. The first two verses describe the cop. himself, his attitude, his rhythm and the daily dangers he faces. In the third verse, McCaig shows that he pities the cop because he has a very dangerous job, but one so dearly valued by modern society. McCaig evokes sympathy for the cop by asking "who would he be" because it is a job, in McCaig's eyes, that very few people would want to do but which is necessary to the functioning of society as we know it . It is clear that his pity is not sentimental as he maintains the metaphor of the gorilla-like cop, thus making him still the same intimidating and ruthless human being. McCaig talks about how being a cop is a life-threatening situation every day when he says his home is a place "he might, this time, never return to." The fact that he says “this time” and puts it in parentheses makes the reader pause and dwell on the meaning of “this time.” This of course has to do with the fact that every day there is a chance that he won't come back and as every day comes there is always that dark possibility for him and his loved ones to be aware of. McCaig implies that the fact that he has returned home every other time means nothing to the hope that he will return home safely this time, or at any other time in the future. In the final verse, however, McCaig invites the reader to consider the problems facing "victim" cops. The word “victim” implies that the,.