Diverging subtly from suffering to salvation “Burden in My Hand”, Chris Cornell marries systematic understatement and abstract irony in order to display the selfish and self-righteous nature of humans.
Combining understatement with heavy, more meaningful circumstances, Cornell creates meaning through unexpected means. By simply beginning the phrases with the word “just” ascertains the irony through the word pairings, effectively achieving overstatement. The sarcasm present in “just a burden in my hand/ just an anchor on my heart/ just a tumor in my head” works to expose human selfishness; because the phrases are not indicative of genuine meaning, the speaker deems himself worthy of “sympathy”. Significance is comprised in placing the understatement at the end of the song, adding weight and evoking lingering thought. Irony is not limited to the device, but rather, is employed by Cornell throughout the song, holistically.
Cornell melds seemingly contrasting occurrences in order to establish a sense of irony within the song. The speaker appears to expect the subject to “follow [him] into the desert” while disregarding the “thirst” that the person is experiencing; irony is played upon in the line not only because it is expected that one who is “thirsty” will avoid the desert, but also in Cornell’s discount of the other’s state of being: in mentioning the person’s thirst to make light of it, actually draws attention to it. The irony presented in the situation emphasized the selfish ways of humans to expect that they are catered to, over basic needs of another. Additionally, in asking for sympathy in reaction to "[shooting his] love", Cornell intensifies the irony of the situation; one would normally not shoot a loved one, and it is especially unexpected to ask for sensitivity in reaction to the news-- that is especially egocentric. The oxymoronic phrase "the truth is lying" may simply be irony adding a stylistic flare, but when followed by the line "beneath the riverbed", the phrase may be taken as a pun. If intentional, the pun adds a layered effect through other figurative language. The touched upon in the song, "if you can live you can fall to pieces" is ironic when taken literally, but proves true when considered through the realm of emotion, further exemplifying the arrogant and one-track mindedness of man by way of producing a paradox. By demanding the subject "kill everything [he] loves because "love's for everyone that isn't [him], Cornell enhances the brash selfishness outlines by humans; because he cannot find or be loved, all those who may deserved to die.
Combining understatement with heavy, more meaningful circumstances, Cornell creates meaning through unexpected means. By simply beginning the phrases with the word “just” ascertains the irony through the word pairings, effectively achieving overstatement. The sarcasm present in “just a burden in my hand/ just an anchor on my heart/ just a tumor in my head” works to expose human selfishness; because the phrases are not indicative of genuine meaning, the speaker deems himself worthy of “sympathy”. Significance is comprised in placing the understatement at the end of the song, adding weight and evoking lingering thought. Irony is not limited to the device, but rather, is employed by Cornell throughout the song, holistically.
Cornell melds seemingly contrasting occurrences in order to establish a sense of irony within the song. The speaker appears to expect the subject to “follow [him] into the desert” while disregarding the “thirst” that the person is experiencing; irony is played upon in the line not only because it is expected that one who is “thirsty” will avoid the desert, but also in Cornell’s discount of the other’s state of being: in mentioning the person’s thirst to make light of it, actually draws attention to it. The irony presented in the situation emphasized the selfish ways of humans to expect that they are catered to, over basic needs of another. Additionally, in asking for sympathy in reaction to "[shooting his] love", Cornell intensifies the irony of the situation; one would normally not shoot a loved one, and it is especially unexpected to ask for sensitivity in reaction to the news-- that is especially egocentric. The oxymoronic phrase "the truth is lying" may simply be irony adding a stylistic flare, but when followed by the line "beneath the riverbed", the phrase may be taken as a pun. If intentional, the pun adds a layered effect through other figurative language. The touched upon in the song, "if you can live you can fall to pieces" is ironic when taken literally, but proves true when considered through the realm of emotion, further exemplifying the arrogant and one-track mindedness of man by way of producing a paradox. By demanding the subject "kill everything [he] loves because "love's for everyone that isn't [him], Cornell enhances the brash selfishness outlines by humans; because he cannot find or be loved, all those who may deserved to die.
Cornell attempts to earn “sympathy” for his selfish action through his skillful use of understatement and understanding of irony. The song derives meaning through figurative language and unexpected twists. The speaker, in belittling himself and downplaying the situation, attempts to reason and excuse his selfish motives and actions. Cornell ultimately heeds human nature through specific example with his utilization of methodical understatement and prevalent irony.
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