Symbolism In My Papa's Waltz, By Theodore Roethke

My Papa 's Waltz, by Theodore Roethke is a lyrical poem told by the narrator looking back on his relationship with his father when he was a young boy. It is an iambic trimeter written with an ABAB rhyme scheme. There is a definite mixed tone in the poem and depending on perspective, it can be read as light and playful, or dark and violent. The boy obviously cares very deeply for his father, but there are undertones of a darker side filled with abuse, violence and alcoholism. The waltz could be symbolic of something much darker than a delicate, beautiful dance. Maybe, it is meant to shed light on the violence that is inflicted on the boy and in the home when his father returns in a drunken stupor. As the first stanza begins, we are slapped right in the face by the father 's drunkenness. The poem begins, "The whiskey on your breath Could make a small boy dizzy;" It is obvious here that the father is in a very drunken state and although the boy does not seem comfortable with the father, it appears that he longs to be in his presence. The next verse is " But I hung on like death: Such waltzing was not easy" the authors use of the word death here is very significant to the fact that the boy had to hang on for his life due to the father 's …show more content…
"My mother 's countenance Could not unfrown itself." countenance is also a significant word as it means a facial expression or approval. Coupled with the line "Could not unfrown itself" it is obvious that the mother is not pleased with the actions that are going on. This is the only time the author mentions the mother, but it is clear although she does not approve she also does not intervene. Could it be that she is also afraid of the