Imagine it, a hardworking father coming home to his son after a long day and playing with him, dancing the night away. On the surface, that is what the poem, “My Papa’s Waltz,” is about but a closer look at Roethke’s choice of words, the poem’s imagery, emotions, and irony reveals a painful and probably confusing encounter between a boy and his drunken father. The poem shows how some things that are bad can be described as good. Many people believe that Theodore Roethke was the small boy in the poem and he is simply looking back on memories of his father, even if they are scary or confusing.
Theodore Roethke wrote plenty about his father in his works. He had a complicated relationship with his father and his father died when Theodore was 14; …show more content…
He is so plastered that his breath could intoxicate the son if he were to breathe in. The child finds the alcohol on his father’s breath comforting, but also overwhelming. The child endures the experience anyways and clings to his father because he loves him. This first stanza sets the scene with a clear image of a father in a drunken stupor, dancing around with his child, while the child holds onto his father “like death.” (3) In the time period that this poem was written in, it was not uncommon for young children to experience abuse. A young man looks up to his father and the boy clings to his father’s shirt because he is scared but feels comfortable being with his father; he could also be clinging to his father to ensure there is not an argument between his …show more content…
Again, analyzing the word “romp,” one side is clearly superior and beats the competition with fury and ease. In athletics, the word “romp” means that the players had an easy victory over an opponent. The father could be viewed as the dominating force to a small child. The younger son could not possible fight back especially with the added influence of alcohol. Alcohol can cause people to act in a rough or harsh manner and when a drunken parents becomes irritated or upset with their child, the parent becomes angry, says things they originally would not and punches and belt buckles fly. Intoxication makes people careless and unknowing of how strong they may be.
Looking at the poem even further, Roethke’s word choices indicate abuse. “The hand that held my wrist / …With a palm caked hard by dirt” (9-14). Obviously, the boy is afraid and the father is acting carelessly. These lines add to the idea of abuse. The words beat, scraped and battered all ignite the idea that the boy is, in fact, being abused. As readers, we are not unaware of
Theodore Roethke wrote plenty about his father in his works. He had a complicated relationship with his father and his father died when Theodore was 14; …show more content…
He is so plastered that his breath could intoxicate the son if he were to breathe in. The child finds the alcohol on his father’s breath comforting, but also overwhelming. The child endures the experience anyways and clings to his father because he loves him. This first stanza sets the scene with a clear image of a father in a drunken stupor, dancing around with his child, while the child holds onto his father “like death.” (3) In the time period that this poem was written in, it was not uncommon for young children to experience abuse. A young man looks up to his father and the boy clings to his father’s shirt because he is scared but feels comfortable being with his father; he could also be clinging to his father to ensure there is not an argument between his …show more content…
Again, analyzing the word “romp,” one side is clearly superior and beats the competition with fury and ease. In athletics, the word “romp” means that the players had an easy victory over an opponent. The father could be viewed as the dominating force to a small child. The younger son could not possible fight back especially with the added influence of alcohol. Alcohol can cause people to act in a rough or harsh manner and when a drunken parents becomes irritated or upset with their child, the parent becomes angry, says things they originally would not and punches and belt buckles fly. Intoxication makes people careless and unknowing of how strong they may be.
Looking at the poem even further, Roethke’s word choices indicate abuse. “The hand that held my wrist / …With a palm caked hard by dirt” (9-14). Obviously, the boy is afraid and the father is acting carelessly. These lines add to the idea of abuse. The words beat, scraped and battered all ignite the idea that the boy is, in fact, being abused. As readers, we are not unaware of