Beware: Do Not Read This Essay.
In "Beware: Do Not Read This Poem" by Ishmael Reed, the speaker's unknown intention attracts the reader because it creates tension. The speaker first begins talking about a lady shrouded in mirrors: "It got so bad that she finally locked herself indoors & her whole life became the mirrors. One day, villagers broke into her house, but she was too swift for them" (Reed 5-11). Mirrors became the woman's life; it was so problematic that she locked herself away. However, when her house was broken into, the problems began. Villagers sought to catch her, but failed. While this wasn't really an intense situation, what built tension was the fact that the villagers