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Theodore Roethke’s poem “My Papa’s Waltz” is a recollection of a little boy’s relationship with his father which depicts child abuse that is summarized into one incident. Theodore Roethke was outstanding in the way he portrayed the abuse by using the melody of the waltz that expresses how the speaker feels by the actions of his father. The waltz is being used as a long metaphor for the father and small boy’s relationship, and the use of metaphors give details of the disturbing link between the father, the mother, and the small boy. The waltz is supposed to be an elegant and friendly dance, but the dance in this poem indicates a gloomier side to it that shows the reader strong disturbing feeling beneath the poem’s exterior. Roethke’s choice …show more content…
All of which shows how alcohol can affect a family with aggression. The word “romped” normally suggests that individuals are enjoying themselves. However, this kind of playing put forward is far from carefree, due to dishes falling from the counter. The small boy states in line seven and eight that, “my mother’s countenance, could not unfrown itself.” The mother’s frown and countenance show that she was not happy about what was happening. The mother sees what is occurring but does not put an end to it, because this behavior is very distinctive in an abusive situation. The abuse she experienced and witness caused her to have a look that could not be unfrowned because of the severity of the matter. In the ninth and tenth line, “the hand that held my wrist was battered on one knuckle.” Which tells us that, the father had to punch someone or something to have a bruised knuckle. When individuals are in abusive conditions, the word battered is often used. The father holding on to the boys wrist instead of his hands shows that it is not a playful mode because it would be more practical that the father would hold the boys hand if they were just
The most notable qualities of Theodore Roethke’s “My Papa’s Waltz” are the tone and language of the poem which convey the nostalgia adult author feels thinking about the time spent with his father. In the title narrator’s father is affectionately referred to as “Papa” making the impression that the main character and his father are close. The use of possessive pronoun “my” contributes to the overall impression that the father holds special place in the narrator’s heart. As word “waltz” in the title implies the poem gives account of the festive occasion in which the narrator’s father takes part.
...hat she does not obliges to what she said to her daughter on about staring to other people. She stared and looked at the teacher twice, which would demonstration that the mother does not like something about her. “Her lips are quivering,” said the daughter showing that her mother had tremble when she was talking to her. They touch and press the lips as an old game but instead the mother put her hand down on her side that indicated it was not part of the old game it was different. The mother shoes as she walked down the hallway from her daughter and the teacher made a very loud sound. Singing and talking in the classroom as they walked towards the room was still not loud enough to take away her mother shoes walking down the hallway. Here the mother is showing emotions that she does not approve of the teacher as in her actions and having loud steps down the hallway.
He states, “The hand that held my wrist was battered on one knuckle; at every step you missed my right ear scraped a buckle” (Roethke line 9-12). This could be could be taken as a symbolism for an abusive father. The hand that was battered on one knuckle could be seen as a hand that has been in a fight. The statement of missing a step and scrapping my ear on a buckle could be seen as imagery of abuse or being lifted up and the child not being able to control his steps and being drug along in a fearful manner.
The children also argue with their mother often. The children think that their mother, with no doubt, will be perfect. They idealize their mothers as angel who will save them from all their problems, which the mothers actually never do. The children get angry at their false hopes and realize that their mothers aren’t going to...
Abuse is a difficult and sensitive subject that can have long lasting effects. These traumatic emotional effects are often intensified if the abuse happens at a young age because children do not understand why the abuse is happening or how to deal with it. There are many abuse programs set up to counter the severe effects which abuse can have. Even more, poets and writers all over the world contribute works that express the saddening events and force the public to realize it is much more real than the informative articles we read about. One such poem is Theodore Roethke’s My Papa’s Waltz which looks carefully through the eyes of a young boy into the household of an abusive father. Robert Hayden’s Those Winter Sundays is a similar poem from the perspective of a young adult reflecting back on the childhood relationship with his father and the abuse his father inflicted. These poems are important because they deal with the complex issues surrounding the subject of abuse and also show the different ways which children react to it. My Papa’s Waltz and Those Winter Sundays are similar poems because they use tone, imagery, and sounds and rhythms to create tension between the negative aspects of abuse and the boys own love and understanding for their father.
The poem "My Papa's Waltz" uses imagery by especially appealing to the sense of touch. The sense of touch also helps the reader to better understand the abusive father theme. The third stanza concentrates on the actual act of abuse. The author, Roethke, describes the battle wounds on the father and son that are inflicted by the father. The father's hand "was battered on one knuckle" from hitting his son with a belt (10). This is apparent because the son's "right ear scraped...
While reading the poem the reader can imply that the father provides for his wife and son, but deals with the stress of having to work hard in a bad way. He may do what it takes to make sure his family is stable, but while doing so he is getting drunk and beating his son. For example, in lines 1 and 2, “The whisky on your breath Could make a small boy dizzy” symbolizes how much the father was drinking. He was drinking so much, the scent was too much to take. Lines 7 and 8, “My mother’s countenance, Could not unfrown itself.” This helps the reader understand the mother’s perspective on things. She is unhappy seeing what is going on which is why she is frowning. Although she never says anything it can be implied that because of the fact that the mother never speaks up just shows how scared she could be of her drunk husband. Lines 9 and 10, “The hand that held my wrist Was battered on one knuckle”, with this line the reader is able to see using imagery that the father is a hard worker because as said above his knuckle was battered. The reader can also take this in a different direction by saying that his hand was battered from beating his child as well. Lastly, lines 13 and 14, “You beat time on my head With a palm caked hard by dirt” As well as the quote above this quote shows that the father was beating his child with his dirty hand from all the work the father has
The daughter alludes to an idea that her mother was also judged harshly and made to feel ashamed. By the daughters ability to see through her mothers flaws and recognize that she was as wounded as the child was, there is sense of freedom for both when the daughter find her true self. Line such as “your nightmare of weakness,” and I learned from you to define myself through your denials,” present the idea that the mother was never able to defeat those that held her captive or she denied her chance to break free. The daughter moments of personal epiphany is a victory with the mother because it breaks a chain of self-loathing or hatred. There is pride and love for the women they truly were and is to be celebrated for mother and daughter.
Still even more evidence of these mixed feelings is illustrated in the third stanza. "This love dance, a kind of blood rite between father and son, shows suppressed terror combined with awe-inspired dependency" (Balakian 62). "The hand that held my wrist/was battered on one knuckle;/ At every step you missed/ My right ear scraped a buckle"(Roethke 668). The speaker's father's hand being "battered on one knuckle" is indicative of a man who...
Her character is portrayed as being anxious through the author’s choice of dialogue in the form of diction, which is “waves of her [the mother] anxiety sink down into my belly”. The effect of this is to allow the readers to establish the emotions of the narrator, as well as establish an the uneasy tone of the passage, and how stressful and important the event of selling tobacco bales for her family is. Additionally, the narrator is seen to be uncomfortable in the setting she is present in. This is seen through the many dashes and pauses within her thoughts because she has no dialogue within this passage, “wishing- we- weren’t- here”, the dashes show her discomfort because the thought is extended, and thus more intense and heavy, wishing they could be somewhere else. The effect of the narrator’s comfort establishes her role within the family, the reason she and her sister does not have dialogue symbolizes that she has no voice within the family, as well as establishing hierarchy. The authors use dictation and writing conventions to develop the character of the narrator herself, as well as the mother. The narrator’s focus on each of her parents is additionally highlighted through
"My Papa's Waltz" is the pensive recollection of a boy's nightly waltz around the house in the arms of his father. Roethke's poem gives a voice to the often silent internal conflict that the children of addicts struggle with. The sad resignation of the young boy is solidified early on in the poem. In the first stanza Roethke sets a tone of both pain and loyalty with the line, "But I hung on like death: Such waltzing was not easy" (479). "My Papa's Waltz" provides readers with the opportunity to see life through the eyes of...
In “My Papa’s Walt’s” Theodore writes about an experience of when he was a child and in this experience he shows mixed emotions towards his father. These emotions that show fear and so much love towards his father. The way that this poet shows his fear and love for his father is through his word choices and the use of imagery and metaphors.
In the late nineteen forties, Theodore Roethke emerged with a poem that has been the source of much debate. "My Papa's Waltz," is an account of a relationship between son and father. Alas, many readers who are exposed to this piece fail to note the love present in the connection of the characters. In an attempt to illuminate the author's true intention several factors must be examined. After several examinations of Roethke's poem as well as learning of his childhood it is evident that this poem does not suggest an abusive environment, but is an appreciative account of the love and playfulness between the characters. Therefore, a successful interpretation of this poem will look beyond the four stanzas and study not only the history of the writing, but the life of the poet.
My Papa’s Waltz is a powerful poem written by Theodore Roethke. The title of the poem set my expectations on a poem about someone dancing with their father. As I read the poem, I noticed my expectations were not equivalent to the poem’s actual content. The author’s creative use of words in the title enhances the poem. My Papa’s Waltz consists of four quatrains written in an abab rhyme scheme. Quatrains are stanzas that contain four lines. The abab rhyming scheme means line one and three rhyme and lines two and four rhyme. This poem gives readers an interesting insight on a childhood experience of being waltzed to bed through the first person narrative.
Some may interpret the father being abusive, because of the speaker using words such as “death, and beat,” (3, 13). The father does have whiskey on his breath, after working hard all day, but it is not clear that, the father is abusive. Perhaps the father uses alcohol in order to, relax so he can spend quality time with his son. Many times after working hard all day, people need to get a second breath, so they can have enough energy to have quality family time. People must also consider the time period. In the 1940’s -1950’s, men weren’t openly expressive about their feelings. They would rough-house and play tough to show their love, and bond. This is the father’s way of showing his love for his son. Roethke states, “But I hung on like death; /Such waltzing was not easy,” (3 - 4). The child was hanging on like death, because the father was unsteady on his feet, or he wasn’t ready to go to bed. It appeared that the father’s whiskey wasn’t the only thing making it difficult for the son, but also the difference in size. If the son is standing on his father’s feet, that will also make it more of a challenge. . According to the speaker, “You beat time on my head, / With a palm caked hard by dirt,” (13- 14). The father was beating time, on his son’s head to keep rhythm: He wasn’t beating his son on his