The speaker of "The Day Lady Died" is comes off as very "intellectual." He knows what to read, what plays to see, what music to listen to, and even what kinds of fancy foreign liquors to drink. Sophisticated people want to be around him, and he can show up in the Hamptons and know that his friends will take care of him. On the other hand, he might seem aloof or insincere, depending on your view of intellectuals.
Questions About Society and Class
- To what social class does the speaker belong? Does he seem wealthy, or does he just mooch off friends?
- Is "intellectual" a social class?
- Is the speaker aware of how hip he sounds?
- In what ways is the speaker just a regular Joe?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
The speaker of the poem may sound hip to an intimidating degree, but at heart he's just an average American consumer.