Why I Like the Hospital: Use of Humour and Satire

Use of Humour and Satire in Why I Like the Hospital by Tony Hoagland

Question: Write a note on the use of humour and satire in the poem.

 Answer:  Tony Hoagland is known for the use of humour and satire in his poetry. In his poem  “Why I Like Hospital” he satirises contemporary human life for many of its failings and weaknesses.

   The main focus of the poem is on presenting the physical and mental woes of the sick people in hospital for this purpose the poet presents several heart touching scenes. Even then there is a touch of humour and satire in the way the poet depicts these situations. 

   As in the opening line of the poem – 

  “Because it is all right to be in a bad mood /

   there”

   The poet abruptly and satirically comments that you can be in a bad mood in the hospital and no where else. In this materialistic world people have become so impersonal and self centred, that in their life they  allow no scope for expressing their feelings openly. People are prepared to stifle their feelings or sentiments even in the face of personal loss or tragedy. These stifled feelings lead to depression and loneliness which in turn lead to physical and mental imbalance and many ailments.

   In first stanza, the poet says – 

  “riding wordlessly on the elevator with the /

    other customers”

     Here the poet presents  an image of moving slowly with bent – heads and shoulders through the underground garage and then silently sharing the elevator with other “customers” is very amusing. The use of the word “customers”  for the visitors and patients going to the hospital is satirical. This word reveals the very commercial and impersonal attitude of hospital authorities and staff towards the patients and their attendants.

 

Another scene which present the picture humorously is – 

  “I like the way some people on their /

  plastic chair”

   Some patients sitting on the plastic chairs consulting their notebook  to know the account of their good and bad deeds – “to tally up their days on earth”. The poet satirically comments on the “Times I Acted Like a Fool” versus  “Times I Acted Like a Saint” a tally system that some patients use,  highlighting the absurdity of self assessment in the face of  mortality.

   The poet presents humourously the paradoxical nature of hospitals where he says – 

   “I don’t like the smell of antiseptic /

    or the air – conditioning set on high all /

   night.”

   The typical smell of antiseptic coming out from every hospital and air – conditioning setting on high which causes discomfort for the older and weaker patients reveals the carelessness of hospital. The  “fresh flowers tossed into the wastebasket” reveals the apathetic nature of hospital where fresh flowers represent the hope and new beginning. 

    When the poet says – 

  “I like the long prairie of the waiting” 

    He humourously presents the long and endless waiting of the patients for their loved ones to have some words to console them. The poet compares their waiting with long and endless grassland and each sick patient is compared with a lone tree “wondering what happened to the forest”.

    He satirises the society that ignores the plight of the lonely, alienated patients who endlessly continue to wait for some one to console them.

    When the poet describe the terminal patient, in lime – green gown, not “pretending to be strong” and  “sobbing without shame”, he satirically points out the fakeness of modern society where expressing the real emotion is not more than expressing ones weakness. Even though the patient “no longer expecting to be saved” he struggles to remain steady. 

   The poet further adds –

  “holding his own hand in/ 

   sympathy”

    It reveals the loneliness and isolation of hospital patients.

  Hoagland intentionally satirises the modern society where sick people are treated as an object, no more needed in the pace of life.