Pride: We can take it in what we do, in who we are, and in what we have overcome. In “Chicago” by Carl Sandburg he writes about the criticisms and judgments that come to his city, Chicago, and its workers. The theme he describes in his poem is that people can be proud no matter what they do, where they live, and what people think of them. He illustrates this theme through word choice, imagery, and relational changes throughout the poem. First of all, the poem tells us the thesis stated through the choice of words. Initially, the poem tells their theme through vile words which are not very pleasant to show what others think of them. The reader says in the poem, “And they tell me you're dishonest and I say, Yes, that's true/I saw a gunman kill and be free to kill again./And they tell me you're brutal and my answer is: Sui faces/of women and children I saw the signs of unbridled/hunger” (Sandburg 9-13 The words that grip you, the vilest words like, unbridled hunger, armed man, kill, brutal, etc., show disgust). that other people have attributed to him and his city. Another way in which literature represents the theme with the choice of words is through the proud choice of words they sneer/at this city of mine, and I return the sneer to them and say/to them:/Come and show me another city with your head held high singing like this/proud to be alive and rough, strong and cunning of the words contained in these lines are proud and demonstrate that the people of this city do not care what others think of them. Next, Carl Sandburg uses harsh and bold words to show that his city is as tough as a wild animal. "With your head uncovered,/Shoveling,/Destroying,/Planning,/Building, breaking, rebuilding", ... in the center of the sheet ......g writes: "THEY TELL ME that you are evil and I believe it/And they tell me you're crooked and I answer: Yes/ And they tell me you're brutal/ Laughing the stormy, raucous, quarrelsome laugh of youth, half naked, sweaty, proud to be a pig butcher, tool maker, grain stacker, Player of the railroads and freight man for the nation.”(Sandburg 6-41).The attitude in the poem changes from the beginning of the speaker admitting his own shortcomings, to taking pride in the imperfection of his city.To reiterate, Carl Sandburg, wrote this poem, to express that although his town has flaws and is judged, the people in the town are proud of their roughness and their backbone. The author demonstrates this theme through his choice of words, imagery and the changes throughout this poem. Maybe what Sandburg was getting at is that you have to be proud of what you have, what you have to do, and who you are.