Poem summary.edited
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"My Papa's Waltz" Poem
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"My Papa's Waltz" Poem
"My Papa's Waltz" by Theodore Roethke, published in 1948, is a heartbreaking poem that
gives a subtle study of a son's remembrance of a boyhood encounter with his father. The poem,
part of Roethke's collection "The Lost Son and Other Poems," dives into the intricate interplay of
emotions, exposing a deeper depth underneath its apparently basic form.
At the surface, the poem looks to depict a cheerful father-son dance, yet it masks a deep
tapestry of emotions. The father, presented as a larger-than-life person, is both appealing and
problematic. This dichotomy is founded in Roethke's troubled connection with his father, a
demanding German immigrant who died away while Roethke was in high school, leaving him
with unresolved sentiments.
The tone of the whole poem is established early in the poem by emphasizing the father's
drinking. The physical bond between father and child is further demonstrated by the boy clinging
to his father "like death"(
Janssen,1986)
. This metaphor alludes to a strong desire to keep their
relationship intact while simultaneously implying fragility and anxiety. The father's intoxication
is humorously portrayed as making the waltz, which is supposed to be a lovely dance, difficult,
signifying the difficulties of synchronizing their relationship. The waltz's elegance and the
dance's exuberance clash, giving the representation more nuance.
A more detached and unfavourable image of the mother, who watches with disdain,
emphasizes her function as a figure of disapproval. Moreover, the poem's last line depicts the boy
still holding on to his father, invoking feelings of affection, dread, and an unwillingness to let go
(Janssen,1986)
. This also alludes to a reluctance to die and be connected to Roethke's past.
Generally, “My Papa's Waltz" captures uncertainty, dread, and love in a fascinating examination
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of the complexities of a father-son relationship. The waltz represents their nuanced relationship,
which is close but often characterized by tense moments.
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References
Janssen, R. R. (1986). Roethke's MY PAPA'S WALTZ.
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,
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(2), 43.