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The Telephone Call by Fleur Adcock
They asked me 'Are you sitting down?
Right? This is Universal Lotteries,'
they said. 'You've won the top prize,
the Ultra-super Global Special.
What would you do with a million pounds?
Or, actually, with more than a million—
not that it makes a lot of difference
once you're a millionaire.' And they laughed.
'Are you OK?' they asked—'Still there?
Come on, now, tell us, how does it feel?'
I said 'I just . . . I can't believe it!'
They said 'That's what they all say.
What else? Go on, tell us about it.'
I said 'I feel the top of my head
has floated off, out through the window,
revolving like a flying saucer.'
'That's unusual,' they said. 'Go on.'
I said 'I'm finding it hard to talk.
My throat's gone dry, my nose is tingling.
I think I'm going to sneeze—or cry.'
'That's right,' they said, 'don't be ashamed
of giving way to your emotions.
It isn't every day you hear
you're going to get a million pounds.
Relax, now, have a little cry;
we'll give you a moment . . .' 'Hang on!' I said.
'I haven't bought a lottery ticket
for years and years. And what did you say
the company's called?' They laughed again.
'Not to worry about a ticket.
We're Universal. We operate
a Retrospective Chances Module.
Nearly everyone's bought a ticket
in some lottery or another,
once at least. We buy up the files,
feed the names into our computer,
and see who the lucky person is.'
'Well, that's incredible,' I said.
'It's marvellous. I still can't quite . . .
I'll believe it when I see the cheque.'
'Oh,' they said, 'there is no cheque.'
'But the money?' 'We don't deal in money.
Experiences are what we deal in.
You've had a great experience, right?
Exciting? Something you'll remember?
That's your prize. So congratulations
from all of us at Universal.
Have a nice day!' And the line went dead.
General Introduction
"The Telephone Call" is a poem by Fleur Adcock, a British poet of New Zealand origin known for her sharp and often witty style, which reflects the complexities of modern life. Adcock’s poetry often addresses themes of identity, human emotions, relationships, and the absurdities of existence, blending irony with humor. This poem was written in a period when Adcock's work was gaining recognition for its conversational tone and sharp observations. "The Telephone Call" comes from her collection Poems 1960-2000, which captures a wide range of her themes and stylistic developments over four decades. The poem focuses on the surreal and somewhat darkly humorous experience of an unexpected lottery win, questioning the nature of luck and reality.
Title
The title, "The Telephone Call," immediately suggests the event that frames the entire poem—a call that appears to be life-changing. It hints at a moment of anticipation, excitement, or perhaps a surprise. The title is simple, yet it establishes the medium through which the poem’s central experience unfolds, setting a tone of immediacy and intimacy. The phrase "telephone call" is everyday and unassuming, contrasting with the extraordinary claim in the poem, thus setting up a juxtaposition between the mundane and the absurd.
Themes of the Poem
The poem "The Telephone Call" by Fleur Adcock deals with several rich and nuanced themes, each reflecting the absurdities of modern life and human experiences. These themes are conveyed through Adcock’s witty and ironic approach, leading the reader to question societal values, expectations, and the consequences of materialism.
1. The Illusion of Wealth and Materialism:
One of the central themes of the poem is the illusion of wealth and how society is obsessed with the idea of sudden, unearned riches. The speaker is initially led to believe that they have won a substantial monetary prize—a life-changing event. This reflects how society often places excessive value on money, imagining that wealth can solve all problems or provide ultimate happiness. However, the twist at the end reveals the emptiness of this illusion, as the prize turns out to be not money, but an "experience." The lottery company’s indifference to the speaker’s expectation of financial gain highlights the superficiality of such pursuits, underscoring how material wealth, while alluring, is not a guarantee of satisfaction or fulfillment.
The lottery company’s statement, "We don’t deal in money. Experiences are what we deal in," exposes how the modern world often commodifies intangible aspects of life—such as emotions, moments of excitement, or hope—leaving people with nothing substantial in the end.
2. Absurdity and Surrealism of Modern Life:
Another theme that runs throughout the poem is the absurdity of modern life, particularly in how technology and consumer culture can create surreal experiences that blur the line between reality and fantasy. The premise of winning a lottery without purchasing a ticket, via a "Retrospective Chances Module," is a surreal notion, and it reflects the randomness and unpredictability of modern existence. The entire interaction between the speaker and the lottery company has an air of absurdity, as the speaker is led through a rollercoaster of emotions based on false premises.
This absurdity is reinforced when the company dismisses the need for the speaker to have even bought a ticket, creating a sense that nothing in modern life is as it seems. The concept of a global lottery with no real payout also mirrors how society is often led to believe in unattainable dreams—whether through advertisements, gambling, or consumerism—that ultimately leave individuals feeling empty.
3. Disappointment and Disillusionment:
The theme of disillusionment becomes apparent as the poem progresses, especially with the revelation that there is no money involved in the lottery win. The speaker's initial excitement is crushed when they realize that their imagined financial windfall is nothing more than a "great experience." This leads to a profound sense of disappointment, highlighting the disparity between expectation and reality.
The statement, "I’ll believe it when I see the cheque," shows the speaker's hope and belief that their luck is real, but by the end, that hope is dashed. The sudden shift from euphoric disbelief to the grim reality that the entire call was essentially meaningless reflects a broader commentary on life’s unpredictability and how expectations are often left unmet.
4. The Commodification of Human Experience:
A particularly striking theme is the commodification of human emotions and experiences. The lottery company’s assertion that they deal not in money but in "experiences" suggests that in contemporary society, even the most personal and emotional aspects of life can be packaged, sold, and marketed as products. This commodification strips genuine emotions of their value and turns them into mere transactions.
The idea that the experience of excitement and disbelief is itself the "prize" questions the authenticity of modern life. By reducing the emotional experience of potentially winning a lottery to something that can be manipulated and distributed, Adcock critiques how society has commercialized even the most intimate moments of human life, leading to a hollow, detached existence.
5. Manipulation and Deception:
Throughout the poem, there is an underlying theme of manipulation and deception. The lottery company’s representatives are not outright liars, but they manipulate the speaker’s emotions and expectations by building up the idea of a life-changing event. Their friendly tone, constant reassurance, and encouragement to "relax" or "have a little cry" serve to string the speaker along, making them more vulnerable to the eventual letdown.
The dialogue between the speaker and the company representatives reflects how easily people can be manipulated by systems that promise great rewards, only to deliver disappointment. This manipulation mirrors real-life schemes, advertisements, and consumer traps, where promises of happiness or success are often exaggerated or entirely false.
6. The Fragility of Human Emotions:
The poem also touches on the theme of emotional fragility, particularly in how the speaker’s emotions are toyed with throughout the telephone call. The speaker goes from disbelief to excitement to confusion and, finally, to disappointment, showcasing the volatility of human emotions. The fact that the speaker’s emotions are so easily influenced by a stranger on the phone reflects the vulnerability that people often experience when faced with the prospect of sudden change.
The line, "I feel the top of my head has floated off, out through the window," conveys the speaker’s initial elation and loss of grounding, illustrating how easily humans can become overwhelmed by their feelings. This theme of emotional fragility highlights how external forces—such as the promise of wealth—can easily disrupt one’s internal emotional balance.
7. The Role of Chance and Luck:
The poem also explores the theme of luck and the role it plays in shaping our lives. The speaker is informed that they have won through a system that seems entirely random and retrospective, as if luck is something that can be arbitrarily assigned, regardless of effort or investment. This randomness reflects a broader commentary on how chance governs much of modern life, from lotteries to opportunities for success.
The idea of a "Retrospective Chances Module" serves as a satirical commentary on the concept of luck and how it is often seen as a force that can intervene in life unexpectedly. However, in this case, luck leads not to wealth or success, but to disappointment, suggesting that relying on luck is a precarious way to approach life’s uncertainties.
In The Telephone Call, Fleur Adcock explores a range of themes including the illusion of wealth, the absurdity of modern life, disillusionment, emotional fragility, and the commodification of human experiences. Through witty dialogue and an ironic narrative, Adcock critiques societal values, particularly the obsession with materialism and the hollow promises of modern consumer culture. The poem serves as both a humorous and critical reflection on how people are manipulated by false promises of wealth and how easily emotions can be commodified. In the end, Adcock’s poem leaves readers with a deeper understanding of the empty pursuit of riches and the fragile nature of human emotions in the face of life’s unpredictable twists and turns.
Literary Devices
1. Irony: The entire poem is built on irony, as the protagonist believes they have won a life-changing lottery only to realize, in the end, that the prize is merely an "experience." The final lines encapsulate this irony:
"Experiences are what we deal in. / You've had a great experience, right?" The speaker’s expectation of monetary reward is undercut by the unexpected twist of receiving nothing tangible.
2. Metaphor: Adcock uses metaphor to convey the speaker's shock and disbelief. For example,
"I feel the top of my head / has floated off, out through the window, / revolving like a flying saucer." Here, the floating head represents the speaker's overwhelming sense of disbelief, with the flying saucer symbolizing something strange and otherworldly.
3. Hyperbole: The poem exaggerates the situation to emphasize the absurdity of the moment, as seen in the dialogue about the grand prize:
"You've won the top prize, / the Ultra-super Global Special." The over-the-top language highlights the unrealistic nature of the claim, hinting that something is off about the entire situation.
4. Alliteration: There is subtle use of alliteration to create rhythm and emphasis in the poem. For example:
"My throat's gone dry, my nose is tingling." The repetition of the "t" sound in “throat,” “tingling,” and “dry” adds a sense of discomfort and tension, reflecting the speaker's anxiety.
5. Dialogue: The poem’s structure is dominated by dialogue between the speaker and the lottery representatives. This conversational tone creates a sense of immediacy and draws the reader into the unfolding events. The repeated questioning—"Are you sitting down? Are you OK?"—conveys both the urgency of the situation and the artificiality of the interaction.
6. Personification: The company, Universal Lotteries, is personified as an entity with its own motives and personality, engaging the speaker in a humorous and somewhat sinister conversation:
"They said, 'That's what they all say.'" This gives the impression that the company is an all-knowing, almost manipulative force, playing with the emotions of the speaker.
Language and Diction
The language in the poem is conversational and informal, mimicking the natural speech one might use during an actual phone call. The lottery representatives speak in a casual and even flippant manner, which contrasts with the speaker’s rising emotions of disbelief and confusion. Phrases like “Ultra-super Global Special” are exaggerated and grandiose, adding a layer of absurdity. The use of colloquial expressions such as "Hang on!" or "I'll believe it when I see the cheque" makes the dialogue relatable and emphasizes the speaker’s growing skepticism. Adcock’s diction is accessible and straightforward, reflecting the ordinariness of the situation, while also using hyperbole and irony to hint at something far more bizarre.
Mood and Tone
The mood of the poem shifts from excitement and disbelief to confusion and, ultimately, disappointment. At the start, the speaker is filled with incredulity, overwhelmed by the supposed news of winning a life-changing prize. However, as the conversation continues, the mood becomes increasingly uneasy and surreal. The tone of the poem is ironic and playful, with Adcock using humor to explore the absurdity of the situation. The lottery company’s casual indifference and the unexpected twist at the end shift the tone towards something more cynical, revealing the hollowness of the promise.
Context
"The Telephone Call" was written at a time when consumerism, luck, and the dream of instant wealth were pervasive cultural themes. The poem reflects the allure of lotteries and the fantasy of sudden riches that permeates modern society, while also critiquing the emptiness of such dreams. Adcock’s work often comments on the absurdities of life, and here, she uses the lottery call as a metaphor for the false promises of wealth and happiness. The notion of "experiences" being sold as valuable prizes reflects a growing commercialization of human emotions and interactions. The poem can be read as a satire of how capitalism packages even the most intangible aspects of life—like excitement or hope—as commodities.
Conclusion
Fleur Adcock's "The Telephone Call" is a witty and ironic exploration of the modern obsession with luck and wealth. Through a playful yet sharp narrative, Adcock critiques the false promises of easy riches and the commercialization of human experiences. The poem's simple structure and accessible language belie its deeper commentary on society’s fascination with instant gratification, ultimately revealing the hollowness of material dreams.
The use of irony, metaphor, and humor makes the poem both engaging and thought-provoking, leaving the reader to reflect on the nature of value, both real and imagined.
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