Analysis of John Lennon’s writing style in:

Subtitle "Lucy in the Scarf with Diabetics"

This excerpt emphasizes Lennon’s socio critical attitude toward war, politics, and economy. Continuously, he is playing on words. In the first line the word issue has been turned into the phrase “atissue (bless you)” expressing the sound of sneezing which is intensified by the additional words “bless you” standing in brackets.

Furthermore, Lennon predicts another world war since he does not only say “if […] the Third World War […] breaks out” but also “when”. So he is pointing at a certain time in future. The term “RANDUM” might refer to the term ‘memorandum’. Lennon probably wants to criticize that politicians make decisions concerning war, but they will never be the ones who fight, instead the common man is supposed to fight as the question “WHO WILL RUN THEM?” suggests.

In the next paragraph he refers to “President Exxon” probably meaning President Nixon who constantly tried to expel Lennon from the United States. Lennon displays Nixon as a child drinking “his cocoa” and being watches by “His Matron”.

Lennon also criticizes the Billionaire Howard Hughes who became rich through Hughes Aircraft Company and the foundation of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Pointing at Mr. Hughes ‘empire’ and fortune Lennon names him Howard “MR. HUGE”. But he does not only misspell his name he also uses capital letters in order to emphasize Hughes’s power. By writing that “Howard HUGE Memorial Hospital […] will only admit dead people, for fear of Spreading Some Unconscionable Disease” Lennon indicates that this scientific institution was originally not solely intended to help people.

All in all, this excerpt includes many time references that were current at Lennon’s time. To understand the whole text requires specific historical knowledge. His playing on words makes his statements even more critical and challenging in terms of understanding.