The speaker of Theodore Roethke’s poem “My Papa’s Waltz” reflects on his abusive father. Using an ABAB CDCD rhyme scheme and fixed meter, the poet underscores the main motifs of music and dance. The titular waltz is a structured dance set to a specific type of music. Constrained by the form of the waltz, the speaker seems to have internalized guilt and complicity in his father’s behavior by suggesting that it takes two people to waltz. His “clinging”(line 12) and having “hung on like death” (line 3) add another dimension of pathos to an already heart-wrenching story. The reader will protest the child having any responsibility for the father’s behavior, adding to the dramatic tension in the poem. Music and dance symbolism also add a potent degree of irony to the poem, as a waltz is typically associated with fine art and not with domestic violence. The subtle cues in the poem related to gender and socioeconomic class do, however, show that Roethke deliberately chose the waltz specifically as a means of making social commentary.A formal dance, the waltz has a specific structure in which the male is supposed to lead the two-person partnership. The speaker of “My Papa’s Waltz” affirms this, especially by showing how he clung and hung onto his father in spite of being abused. He was...
The mother is only mentioned once, in the second stanza of the poem. Like the speaker, she is totally disempowered. She can only stand around and watch while her son and her husband “romped until the pans / Slid from the kitchen shelf,” (lines 5-6). In this scene, Roethke clearly segregates the male and female domains: the mother is mentioned in the same space as the kitchen because the kitchen is the wife’s domain. Although the wife serves in her domestic duties, she defers to the will of the husband even if that means tacitly condoning violence. The poem suggests that patriarchal social codes and customs can be inherently violent and abusive, and do not necessarily entail legitimate rules or structures.
Papa's Waltz": Hints of Child Abuse or Suggestions of the Pains of a Hard Life? Theodore Roethke's piece, "My Papa's Waltz," is a perfect example of the different interpretations that can come from a single work of poetry. The phrasing, at times, suggest that there are instances of child abuse, while at the same time, others could claim that it is simply a glimpse into a moment of time that
Abstract This My Papa’s Waltz analysis essay examines the poem “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke published in 1942. It provides a summary of the poem, describing the action of what takes place; it then gives an analysis of the work, discusses the characters and the main theme of the poem; and finally provides an assessment of the poem’s use of imagery and symbolism. The essay shows that Roethke’s poem is,
Introduction Beginning a My Papa’s Waltz analysis essay can appear like a formidable task, as the poem is so simple, yet so enigmatic. Luckily, writing such an analysis essay can help you build a higher level of appreciation for the poem, as it can show you the layers of meaning embedded throughout each line. Close scrutiny of this poem can demonstrate the power that a precise word choice can wield in
Papa's Waltz" The Play as Literature In an art form which imitates the lives of Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller, the star -- Kitty -- is a needy, insecure, and unstable actress. Putting the entire movie production at risk -- and her own reputation, as well -- her hysteria and fragile emotional state keep everyone on the edge of outright hostility. How can a world famous actress -- loved by millions
And the phrase "I hung on like death" that denotes a child's fear of falling or tension. To the child "such waltzing was not easy." The phrase, too, "you beat time on my head" tells us something of the child's height, as well as the father's strength. The description about the hand is an evocative phrase. And 'sliding' is again consistent with the dance movements of a waltz. The waltz
My Papa's Waltz The poem My Papa's Waltz is about the relationship between an abusive father and his child, who is the narrator and the point of perspective. The little boy is trying to hold onto his father literally in the poem, but the poem is likely written from the perspective of an older person, looking back at his childhood. He is trying to hold onto the love for his father,
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