My Papa's Waltz By Theodore Roethke
In his story, My Papa’s waltz, Theodore Roethke examines the relationship between a father and son. The essay describes the daily interactions between the two. Some people may consider the relationship to be abusive, while others see it as a loving relationship with a little bit of roughhousing. The relationship between the father and son in this poem is seen as loving and fun. In the first stanza, the father is portrayed as a drinker whose alcohol-scented breath “could make a small boy dizzy.” It is not uncommon for men to come home from a long day at work and have a drink to relax before they go to bed. However, this stanza could also portray the father as an alcoholic. The stanza also mentions the physical side of the relationship and
how persistent the boy is to hang on to his father, even though it is difficult. He may be hanging on so tight because he missed his father throughout the day and does not want to let go now that he is home and they have been reunited. The second stanza brings the mother into the picture. While the father and son are rough housing, they knock pans off of the kitchen shelf and the mother is not pleased. In fact, she was so upset that her face “could not unfrown itself.” She is probably upset that the father and son are cluttering her kitchen and making a lot of noise. On the contrary, she may be concerned about how aggressive the father is being towards his son while they are roughhousing and playing around in the kitchen. Most fathers and sons roughhouse and sometimes it may get out of hand, but the father's truly mean no harm. In the third stanza, there are many references to the physical characteristics of the father and son. Roethke writes about the father’s hand being “battered on one knuckle.” The father most likely has a job that requires manual labor and a lot of work with his hands. However, the father’s hand may also be battered and bruised from getting in a fight. Roethke also mentions how the son’s ear hits the father’s belt buckle as they walk together. The son is just the right height to hit his ear on the belt if their steps get out of rhythm. In the fourth and final stanza, there is another mention to the physical body of the father. The author tells of the father beating the son’s head “with a palm caked hard by dirt.” This also refers back to the assumption that the father is employed by a job that requires manual labor and hard physical work. The father and son are having one final tussle before the son is taken off to bed by the father. When the author mentions the son still clinging to the father’s shirt at the end of the day, it is apparent that the son loves his father and does not want to be separated from him. Sadly, it could also mean that the child is clinging to his dad out of fear of what will happen next. All throughout My Papa’s Waltz, Roethke presents scenarios that can be seen in two completely opposite ways that change how the relationship between the father and son is viewed. The relationship is viewed as loving and playful in this poem. Some interactions may be seen as abusive and threatening, but all fathers and sons have tussles from time to time, it’s just part of life.
how persistent the boy is to hang on to his father, even though it is difficult. He may be hanging on so tight because he missed his father throughout the day and does not want to let go now that he is home and they have been reunited. The second stanza brings the mother into the picture. While the father and son are rough housing, they knock pans off of the kitchen shelf and the mother is not pleased. In fact, she was so upset that her face “could not unfrown itself.” She is probably upset that the father and son are cluttering her kitchen and making a lot of noise. On the contrary, she may be concerned about how aggressive the father is being towards his son while they are roughhousing and playing around in the kitchen. Most fathers and sons roughhouse and sometimes it may get out of hand, but the father's truly mean no harm. In the third stanza, there are many references to the physical characteristics of the father and son. Roethke writes about the father’s hand being “battered on one knuckle.” The father most likely has a job that requires manual labor and a lot of work with his hands. However, the father’s hand may also be battered and bruised from getting in a fight. Roethke also mentions how the son’s ear hits the father’s belt buckle as they walk together. The son is just the right height to hit his ear on the belt if their steps get out of rhythm. In the fourth and final stanza, there is another mention to the physical body of the father. The author tells of the father beating the son’s head “with a palm caked hard by dirt.” This also refers back to the assumption that the father is employed by a job that requires manual labor and hard physical work. The father and son are having one final tussle before the son is taken off to bed by the father. When the author mentions the son still clinging to the father’s shirt at the end of the day, it is apparent that the son loves his father and does not want to be separated from him. Sadly, it could also mean that the child is clinging to his dad out of fear of what will happen next. All throughout My Papa’s Waltz, Roethke presents scenarios that can be seen in two completely opposite ways that change how the relationship between the father and son is viewed. The relationship is viewed as loving and playful in this poem. Some interactions may be seen as abusive and threatening, but all fathers and sons have tussles from time to time, it’s just part of life.