Question

In at least one hundred words, explain the significance of repetition in Bob Dylan’s “The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll.”

Answer 1

In his song he repeats the phrases, "Take the rag away from your face," and, "Now ain't the time for your tears." By repeating these lines Bob Dylan is implying that the woman being murdered or her being a maid was not the reason you should be crying or be upset about in the story. However, in the end when he describes the life of the woman, showing her helpful nature and innocence the line changes to, "bury the rag deep in your face" and "for now is the for your tears." This repetition reveals the real injustice when we find that the woman was an innocent one, not only did she not deserve to be killed, but this man should have served longer than six months.

Step-by-step explanation:

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Answer 2

In this song, Dylan repeats the lines "Take the rag away from your face / Now ain't the time for your tears."

He uses these lines throughout the song in order to tell the listener that *this* isn't what they should be upset about. Don't get upset that this woman was murdered. Don't get upset that she was only a maid. Now isn't the time to get upset about these things.

By the end of the song, however, this line changes. It now becomes "Bury the rag deep in your face/ For now's the time for your tears." Dylan says that now is the time to cry because justice was not served. Zanzinger only got six months for the murder of an innocent woman.

Therefore, the repetition of these lines allows Dylan to indicate the true tragedy of this story.