Standard Oil Co by Pablo Neruda
The poem is a critique of capitalism and imperialism, portraying the exploitation of natural resources and labor by multinational corporations. It describes the destruction of the environment and the dehumanization of workers in the pursuit of profit. The speaker condemns the actions of Standard Oil Co., a symbol of capitalist greed, and mourns the loss of Chile's natural beauty and cultural heritage.
By Pablo Neruda · First published 1956 · Genre: Political Poetry, Social Commentary, Environmental Poetry · 304 words
First lines
When the drill bored down toward the stony fissures and plunged its implacable intestine into the subterranean estates, and dead years, eyes of the ages, imprisoned plants' roots and scaly systems became strata of water, fire shot up through the tubes transformed into cold liquid, in the customs house of the heights, issuing from its world of sinister depth, it encountered a pale engineer and a title deed.
However entangled the petroleum's arteries may be, however the layers may change their silent site and move their sovereignty amid the earth's bowels, when the fountain gushes its paraffin foliage,
What this Textopian page supports
Standard Oil Co is listed on Textopian as a poem by Pablo Neruda, dated 1956 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Pablo Neruda
- Date: 1956 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Political Poetry, Social Commentary, Environmental Poetry, Historical Poetry, Surrealism
- Length: 304 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Confusing
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Standard Oil Co by Pablo Neruda
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Genres
- Political Poetry — The poem critiques the influence of Standard Oil on politics and society, highlighting themes of power and exploitation.
- Social Commentary — It addresses social issues related to imperialism, capitalism, and the impact of corporations on nations and individuals.
- Environmental Poetry — The imagery of drilling and the natural world reflects concerns about environmental degradation caused by industrialization.
- Historical Poetry — The poem references historical events and figures, situating its themes within a broader historical context.
Tags
Epic Poetry · Corporate Critique · Historical Fiction · Capitalism · Imperialism · Latin American Literature · Social Commentary · Oil Industry · Business Ethics · Monopoly · Robber Barons · Industrialization
More by Pablo Neruda
- Body of a Woman (1959)
- The Light Wraps You (1954)
- Ah Vastness of Pines (1975)
- The Morning Is Full (1954)
- So That You Will Hear Me (1976)
- I Remember You As You Were (1952)
- Leaning Into The Afternoons Leaning into the afternoons I cast my sad nets towards your oceanic eyes (1954)
- White Bee (1974)
- All works by Pablo Neruda