The tension in Webster's poem "Stamps" is between the
shopper who looks back at the woman and her husband and child in line at the grocery
store. The shopper inspects what the other family is buying because they have food
stamps, public aid for which the shopper's salary deductions are made. Critically, then
the shopper eyes the chocolate that the family is buying since candy is not an essential
food. Obviously, the shopper feels insulted that her "hard-earned money" should pay for
candy. On the other hand, the woman is humiliated that the shopper should feel the
right to inspect what they buy because they do try to support themselves, but the salary
falls short of subsistence level. In further degradation, the family has their food
coupons turned over and rubber stamped, thus making the tender less than money and
clearly nothing that they have earned.
So, the theme of
this poem can be stated in terms of the "stamping" of people, labeling them all as
shiftless, who must use government aid. The woman who is so labeled feels shame and
humiliation; she wants the shopper to know that they do work, but what they make is not
enough to support a family.
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