.
Another idea presented coinciding with the mother and son metaphor is the metaphor that the world is an invalid and America, the mother needs to "help it-. This is shown in the quote "she's off to nurse an invalid called the world-. This is a notion of American supremacy and the idea that America is forcing its' culture onto other countries. .
Bruce Dawe has effectively used different techniques in his poetry to address issues of consumerism.
The Not-so-good Earth, written in 1966 is a dramatic monologue in free verse and concerns the western world's ignorance, disinterestedness and prejudices against Asian countries. Through the title of this poem, hyphenation and the use of the persona, the reader is, in turn left with several thoughts associated with this social issue.
The title itself already suggests the poem's dominating interest as it is unambiguous that Dawe is playing with the title of the book The Good Earth, written by Pearl Buck - a novel dealing with a poor Chinese family and their struggles with life, only to become successful in the end through hard work. However, real life situations are extremely different from those experienced in The Good Earth and Dawe acknowledges the reality of life in countries like China. The title of this poem induces the reader to distinguish between the dreams and the reality of the world. It informs the reader in thinking beyond their world and to think critically of themselves and their attitudes towards the unfortunate regions of the world.
Throughout this poem, the struggle with life in China is continuing, though the only thing Uncle Billy is concerned about is making the television screen clearer by "using the contrast knob-. Even while he is adjusting the image on the television, "all those screaming faces and bodies- are "going under the horses' hooves-. This statement is hyphenated in attempt to make it conspicuous, however, having a clearer vision on the television is more important than the suffering peasants of China, to this family.
