"If they do this to anyone who begs...what would they do to sick , four-legged dogs?" -"Pink Dog" by Elizabeth Bishop
In regard to the guide question about the tone and its utilization, I chose "Pink Dog" due to it being the most heavily opinionated and personal out of all the poems this chapter. My personal opinion is that "Pink Dog" is similar with "London" in that it focuses primarily on the problem through the somewhat harsh explanation of a single character. In this case, Bishop focuses on the appearance of the "dog" and its treatment by society to point out the injustices in the system. The tone of the poem starts out as somwhat sympathetic and cautionary, then leads into the deeper problematic tendencies with society- the sarcastic, ridiculing tone. Bishop is describing the behaviors of an established society (Rio de Janeiro) which has not adapted morally to care for its impoverished. She, like Larkin, acknowledges that the poor must live by the wits to adapt in such a hostile society. In that sense, it seems as though the sympathy is carried out through the whole poem. She urges the "dog" to dress up for Carnival. Essentially, she wants him/her to follow the thought process of society and cover up their unpleasantries in order to have a chance at fitting in with the normal people.
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