Theodore Roethke’s poem “My Papa’s Waltz" contains an element of mystery that surrounds the poem. The relationship between the father and son in the story, can be construed as either friendly, or abusive. However, the nature of the relationship between the father and son, is up to the reader to decide. This paper will show evidence from the poem and state both sides of the argument of whether the scene in the house is a fun party with a father dancing with his son, or a dreadful night of a father beating his son in a drunken fit.
The story takes place in a home with a father, a mother and a son. The story is told through the eyes of the son, who is believed to be a smaller boy of age. The boy explains the mannerisms of his father when the father is drunk and at home with him. It is only these facts that are the least ambiguous and can be trusted as facts. The rest of the story is filled with vagueness and can be tailored to fit the needs of an abusive relationship, or a …show more content…
When the poem states “The hand that held my wrist, / Was battered on one knuckle” it can make the reader shift their opinion toward the abusive side. However, the last lines of the poem state “then he waltzed me off to bed / Still clinging to your shirt”. These lines throw of the reader, showing possible compassion from the father.
There is a beauty about this poem, in the fact that the reader may have chosen a side of whether this relationship is good or evil, without even knowing it. The subconscious assumption can lead fellow readers to argue with each other to prove who is right and who is wrong. One reader can say that the sheer fact that the father is drunk in the first place, is abusive and child neglect in itself. Others may have lived a different life and say that being drunk is just a regular state in life. There are no right answers, only more questions. The poem does not give enough evidence to give the reader a solid
The story takes place in a home with a father, a mother and a son. The story is told through the eyes of the son, who is believed to be a smaller boy of age. The boy explains the mannerisms of his father when the father is drunk and at home with him. It is only these facts that are the least ambiguous and can be trusted as facts. The rest of the story is filled with vagueness and can be tailored to fit the needs of an abusive relationship, or a …show more content…
When the poem states “The hand that held my wrist, / Was battered on one knuckle” it can make the reader shift their opinion toward the abusive side. However, the last lines of the poem state “then he waltzed me off to bed / Still clinging to your shirt”. These lines throw of the reader, showing possible compassion from the father.
There is a beauty about this poem, in the fact that the reader may have chosen a side of whether this relationship is good or evil, without even knowing it. The subconscious assumption can lead fellow readers to argue with each other to prove who is right and who is wrong. One reader can say that the sheer fact that the father is drunk in the first place, is abusive and child neglect in itself. Others may have lived a different life and say that being drunk is just a regular state in life. There are no right answers, only more questions. The poem does not give enough evidence to give the reader a solid