How does ‘The Times They Are a-Changin” explore the global issue of inequality?
One way in which Bob Dylan explores the issue of inequality in the song ‘The Times They Are a-Changin’ is through his repetition of certain phrases. By starting almost every verse with “Come” followed by a group of people, such as “writers and critics” or “mothers and fathers”, Dylan also invites all sorts of people to be the ‘audience’ for his song. This also serves as something like a call and response, where Dylan focuses on certain groups, forcing them to understand or listen to what he has to say. This helps the issue that he presents in the song reach a greater variety of people. Another form of repetition is by ending every verse with the phrase “For the times they are a-changin'”. Since the song itself does not have an explicit chorus, this phrase can be considered as something similar to a chorus, which draws the focus of the listeners to that phrase. The phrase is also the most important one in the song as it summarises most of what Dylan is trying to say.
Another way in which Dylan explores the global issue in the song is through his usage of figurative language. The language he uses includes metaphors, symbolism, and imagery. This language helps to paint a picture in the listener’s mind of the issue Dylan is trying to present, as well as of ideas that he may have about the future of society. For example, the first verse contains many references to water, which is essentially a symbol for societal change. By using this metaphor, the rest of the verse contains many different ideas that he may be trying to present. For example, when he states that the “waters … have grown”, he may be implying that change in society is beginning, and that it will soon come to impact all people. Furthermore, when he states that if people don’t “start swimmin'” they’ll “sink like a stone”, he may be referencing the idea that if people refuse to change, they may become caught up in the change, and left behind by society. Another symbol that Dylan uses is that of a spinning wheel. Throughout the poem, Dylan mentions many times how those at the bottom will become those at the top and vice versa. The spinning wheel reinforces this idea, since if the bottom of the wheel begins to rise, the top must go down. This refers to the issue of inequality, where the people at the bottom are those that are discriminated against, while those at the top are the people in power, often the ones doing the discriminating. Since the “wheel’s still in spin”, it can be inferred that Dylan feels that the ‘wheel’ of society will eventually spin to a place where people are equal, with those in power no longer holding those positions.
