"Pink Dog"

This poem by Elizabeth Bishop is both satirical and criticizing. The poet begins with an address to a dog by using an apostrophe. The poet, with the eyes and viewpoint of society, looks down upon the dog and sounds very condescending. By doing this, the poet conveys that society treats the dog as an outcast because he is different from everyone else. The people of society stopped and stared at the dog because he didn't meet their standards. Bishop then compares the treatment of the dog in the poem to the treatment of the beggars. The society described in the poem makes a huge joke out of the poor, so the poet is concerned about what they will think about the dog and how they will react to his presence. By making a connection between a dog and the poor, Bishop turns a fictional problem into a nonfictional problem that can be applied to Rio de Janeiro, where the poet is from. Bishop attempts to give the dog advice in the piece. She recommends that he change himself in order to fit in or conform to society. The poet's image of the hairless dog allows the reader to understand how narrow-minded society can be. The people in this poem are conveyed as superficial, and the poet emphasizes this social issue that she thinks needs more attention.