The American New Poets

There is much irony contained within Edgar Lee Masters’ “Hamilton Greene”.  Hamilton Greene is the biological child of Thomas Greene and Elsa Wertman, a German peasant who worked at the Greene’s.  Mrs. Greene learns of Elsa’s secret and decides to take the child as her own since she has no children of her own.  Hamilton lives his entire life never knowing who his biological mother is and pays homage to his parents, who are of “valiant and honorable blood both” and states that he owes them his success.  Hamilton believes he inherited certain traits from both his mother and father that resulted in his achievements, meanwhile being completely oblivious as to who he really is.  Another poem that contains irony is “Rueben Bright”.  In this poem, Ruben Bright’s wife passes away and he is absolutely devastated.  Since he is a butcher, people were surprised that he would show such emotion, especially on the matter of death.