My Papa's Waltz by Theodore Roethke - Essay Example

During the dances, the persona would have his wrist held by the father. And when the father made an irregular walk, his belt’s buckle would injure the persona’s right ear, prompting the seemingly sympathetic father to spend inordinate time soothing the boy’s head with his unclean hands. Then he would take the boy for bed rest. But the persona would not let his shirt go, most probably over naïve love.

The Analysis

            Roethke’s small literary piece of four stanzas is typically a contemporary poem, judging by its creation, imagery, and mood. The speaker is retelling his childhood lessons and activities with his father. As Roethke said, it can be argued that the poem is reflective of a happy social relationship between a parent who is more concerned with his child’s wellbeing and the equally amused child (126). Others consider this poem as reflective of parental abuse. Factually, however, the imagery and tone in the poem represent dangerously raw love for the son, which borders on inappropriate treatment or abuse. For instance, Whiskey on the father’s breath making the “small boy dizzy” is depictive of a painful dance for the child (Roethke 126)

            As such, “hung on like death” (line 3) symbolizes acts of suffering that the persona was forced to go through at the hands of an abusive father. Even though the father’s behaviors may be symbolic of a lovely father who is unfairly influenced by alcohol, his repeated actions paint the image of a parent who is indifferent to proper parenting roles as expected of a reasonable father in his position. By opting to stick to his father even when his actions were suggestive of imminent “death”, the boy is demonstrating how his naivety put his life on the line almost daily (Roethke 126).

            In addition, with his father’s “caked hard by dirt” (Line 13), the persona is using rich imagery to demonstrate how his father systematically taught him acts of deviance by dirtying his innocent mind and body with worldly baggage (Roethke 126). The dirt on the father’s palm may be construed as symbolic of the heavy drinking habit, which he extends to the child; his bizarre jumps and runs; and the constant injuries to the small boy’s head. By contrast, a clean-handed father would protect the physical and emotional health of his son by teaching him moral behaviors and socially acceptable ways of life.

Conclusion

            Generally, Roethke’s “My Papa's Waltz” is a poem set in modern society where children are exposed to their parents’ deviances under the disguise of parental love. The persona recalls alcoholism soiled his father’s hands, prompting weird dances, jumps, and runs, which he could not resist. These actions symbolize a lack of moral child-rearing in current-day families.