The relationship between a son and his father is usually complicated. Even though society pushes people to believe that it should always be rose colored, reality is often otherwise. Theodore Roethke had a very complicated link to his father, who died when he was only a teenager. He portrayed this connection in many of his texts, including his poems. In keeping with his true emotions, and those of many others, he did not present a cut and dry position with regards to he who had given birth to him.
There is evidence, like his use of the word papa, in favor of a positive relationship. Nevertheless, there are also clues as to abuse and alcoholism on behalf of the parent. Roethke’s “My Papa’s Waltz” provides the reader with an ambiguous presentation of the father, serving as a reflection of the mixed feelings most people have towards their parents as well.
Before reading the actual poem, one surmises that the narrator has a tender link with regards to his father. The title, “My Papa’s Waltz”, suggests a beautiful link between them. The son recognizes the father as being his, as well as calling him papa, a term of endearment. Furthermore, the waltz is a dance where two people have to follow each other.
One could interpret this title, and form as a whole, as being an ironic device with respect to the content of the poem. Nevertheless, even though this would make stronger the harming aspect of his father’s relation, it would still mean that there was a sweet component to their relationship. The presentation of the poem, including its title, suggests that the link between the two males is a beautiful one.
Nevertheless, many people have interpreted the opposite, mainly due to the violent imagery that the poem presents. From the first stanza, the narrator presents a problem, as he must hang on “like death” (Roethke), introducing negative imagery into a poem that most people would believe was to be very joyous due to the title. Furthermore, in the second stanza, the mother is seen frowning, readily notifying the reader that there is something objectively wrong about the scene. This introduction of a third, objective person leads the reader to realize that not everything is positive about this poem.
The third and fourth stanzas reveal more about these negative aspects of the father-son relationship, evolving into physical violence. In line 12, which will be discussed below, one can see how the father’s belt buckle is harming the son. Finally, in the next line, one can see how the father beat the boy on the head, even if it was time. Therefore, there is a negative, even abusive portrayal of the father in the poem as well.
However, Roethke even attempts to excuse his father for some of his wrongdoings by stating that they could have not been on purpose. For example, between lines 11 and 12, the author portrays the father as unintentionally hurting him. One can read “At every step you missed / My right ear scraped a buckle” (Roethke). One could hardly blame the father for missing a step while dancing, especially if he was drunk; nevertheless, this still hurt the boy physically.
As a whole, the father is left without characteristics. The only hints that one has towards his character are left ambiguous. The only real clue that the reader gets is that he drinks, with the presentation of the whisky on his breath in the first verse. The rest of the description is of the process as a whole, including the movements of the son, leaving the father as a mystery figure. In this sense, the father could be seen as unwittingly hurtful, leaning towards a more sympathetic view.
One could argue that this ambiguous presentation of the father is intentional, leaving the interpretation up to the river. As one can see, there are clues that support each interpretation, and the reader has to complete that which the author does not explicitly say.
In this sense, one could see the poem mirroring how one usually relates to one’s memory of one’s father as well: one day, one could see him as Superman, while he could be the cause of one’s ruin the next. This could be a masterful touch that Roethke included, commenting on the nature of memory itself and the way that one can take different position on the text that makes up one’s life.
In conclusion, Roethke presents an ambiguous portrayal of his father, neither positive nor negative, in order to mirror the reality of the relationship one has towards one’s parents as well. There are some elements where one could interpret Roethke as being favorable to his father, such as the title, where he calls his father papa and refers to the relationship between them as a dance.
Nevertheless, the alcoholic and violent imagery suggests otherwise, leading towards a negative and even violent depiction. As a whole, this is largely ambiguous, letting the reader interpret the true intentions of a father who hurt his child, yet in an unintentional manner. As one can see, this is a short masterpiece that reflects the changing link many people have towards their parents.
Works Cited
Roethke, Theodore. “My Papa’s Waltz”. The Poetry Foundation. Web. 12 Jun. 2016. Web. <http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems-and-poets/poems/detail/43330>.
