On the surface, "Oranges" might not seem to have much to do with sadness. But it is the thematic undercurrent of sadness that allows the speaker's love to appear so bright and intense. The young love between the speaker and his girl is set against a gloomy backdrop that seems to suggest that sadness is the world's default condition—what we're left with if we don't have love. Bummer.
Questions About Sadness
- Was there a particular image or description in "Oranges" that seemed sad to you? What was it and why did it make you sad?
- If all the imagery in "Oranges" was cheerful, how would the poem be different? (Try to dig deeper than, "It would be more cheerful.")
- Oranges are a pretty happy fruit, as fruit goes. What would be a good fruit to represent sadness? Why?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
Soto chose a gloomy setting for "Oranges" as contrast to help accentuate the bright, sunny imagery associated with the girl.
The poem's cold, gloomy setting reflects Soto's belief that the world is predominantly a cold a gloomy place with only the occasional bright spot. Sad.