Poetry Paper on Eminem

Changes in Plot and Tone Can Change a Mind in Eminem’s “My Fault”

In his breakthrough hip-hop album entitled The Slim Shady LP, Marshall Mathers, more commonly recognized by his stage name “Eminem,” presents tracks which may sound similar to what most offensive, vulgar, and inept rappers talk about in their songs. James Delingpole, first time Eminem listener and writer of the article “Your Children Are Rap Victims,” deviates from an expected hateful reaction of Eminem’s music by pointing out that “almost all his work has a strong vein of black comedy, such as [the song] 'My Fault'” (2). Although one of his lesser known works, “My Fault” tells the tale of his (assumably fictional) trip to a party, where he persuades a girl named Susan to eat psilocybin (or “magic”) mushrooms. She accidently overdoses, and before Eminem can alleviate Susan’s medical state, she dies, leaving Eminem to cry over her body at the end of the song. Why is it that Eminem decided to kill off Susan’s character in his song instead of choosing a happier or funnier alternative? Acting as a main character, an initial narrator, and songwriter, the majority of his work involves the comedic tone which he is notorious for using. However, the humorous mood does not last throughout the entirety of the song, so why would he want to discontinue it at certain parts? Indubitably, he has concocted an effective example of what the majority of rap songs lack: an underlying moral. In the lyrics of the song “My Fault,” Eminem utilizes plot twists and gradual changes in tone in order to repel the audience from the idea of using drugs.

In the very first lines, Eminem lures the audience in by swiftly foreshadowing part of the plot. He begins with “I never meant to give you mushrooms girl / I never meant to bring you to my world / But now you’re sitting in the corner crying / And now it's my fault, my fault” (Eminem). These lyrics appear to give off somewhat of an ominous feeling to instill an initial...