Poem Analysis - Girls Coming Home In Their Cars

Introduction: A Glimpse into Everyday Apathy

Charles Bukowski's "Girls coming home in their cars" presents a seemingly mundane scene, transformed by the speaker's detached observation and undercurrent of suppressed desire. The poem's tone is initially observational and almost clinical, documenting the simple act of women returning home. However, this detachment gives way to a creeping sense of voyeurism and a somewhat desperate yearning for excitement. The mood is one of quiet desperation and a longing to connect.

The Monotony of Observation

One of the central themes in the poem is the monotony of existence and the speaker's attempt to find some form of stimulation in it. The repetition of "There's a girl in a..." followed by the dress and car color creates a sense of routine and predictability. The speaker is trapped in this cycle of observation, seemingly seeking escape from his own boredom by focusing on the girls and their appearances. This is underscored by the final line, “you don’t know how exciting life can get around here / at 5.35 p.m.” which highlights the sad reality of his limited experience and desperation to be excited by this simple image.

Objectification and Female Form

The poem heavily focuses on objectification, reducing the women to their appearance, specifically their legs. The speaker is not interested in their personalities or lives, but solely in their physical attributes. The repetitive "I look at her legs" emphasizes this objectification and reveals the speaker's shallow perspective. Furthermore, the ranking of the legs ("best legs," "medium legs") highlights the dehumanizing nature of his gaze. The fact he almost saw the girl in the blue dress’ panties heightens the sense of his lascivious gaze.

Colors and Desire

The use of color is significant and possibly symbolic. The colors of the dresses and cars create a vivid, albeit superficial, imagery. The color pairings - red, white, blue, pink - could be interpreted as representing different facets of the speaker's desire. Perhaps red symbolizes passion, blue represents melancholy or longing, white stands for purity, and pink could symbolize romantic love. The combination of these colors with the women and their cars might reflect the speaker's complex and fragmented desires. Further, the speaker remembering the girl in blue might mean that he has a deeper longing for melancholy than the other fleeting desires.

Conclusion: A Commentary on Loneliness

In conclusion, "Girls coming home in their cars" is a powerful commentary on loneliness, objectification, and the search for meaning in a mundane existence. The poem's strength lies in its simplicity and directness, conveying the speaker's inner world with stark honesty. It raises questions about the nature of observation, the objectification of women, and the human need for connection. Bukowski invites us to consider the subtle tragedies that can unfold within the confines of an ordinary afternoon, reminding us that even the simplest observations can reveal deeper truths about ourselves and the world around us.