‘Hotel Room, 12th Floor: Theme; Society’

In ‘Hotel Room, 12th Floor’ society is a central theme that MacCaig explores in depth.
Through his descriptions of New York, the poem portrays America’s culture and society, particularly the violence that seems to be innate to it.
There is a clear disparity between the society the speaker is used to in Scotland and the one he observes in New York.

The violence within the city is portrayed as being endemic, likening the modern city to the Wild West.
The sounds and sights of violence are portrayed as being relentless, continuing into the night.
MacCaig uses the term ‘war dance’ that suggests a ritualistic, ingrained part of the culture - indicating it’s not just random acts of violence but part of the societal pattern.

The speaker is described as being high up in a hotel room ‘perched’ which suggests a detachment from society.
This detachment may mirror the disconnection felt in a society where violence is a norm.
The speaker struggles to engage with this society in the way he would like, mirroring how society often turns a blind eye to the violence.

The poem presents an image of a society where technological advancement isn’t paralleled with moral progress.
The speaker laments the lost innocence of society which he perceives as becoming increasingly violent.
New York as a symbol of modern society raises questions about man’s progress - an advanced city with skyscrapers yet almost primal in its levels of violence.

‘Hotel Room, 12th Floor’ examines society’s innate nature of violence, societal disconnection and the measurement of society’s progress by using New York as a physical representation of modern society. Despite technological advancement, the poem suggests that societal progress, particularly in terms of moral development and the pursuit of a peaceful existence, may not have kept pace. The speaker’s detachment highlights the issues within society and calls for a reflection on the direction modern society is headed.