Ooh... This poem is dark. What I get from it is that the young boy, or author, has an unstable family life, and a very unstable relationship with his father. Papa evidently beats him and mistreats him, but it seems as if the young boy has no other choice but to rely on his father and submit to him. I think readers are supposed to get the sense that Papa has alcoholic problems and is very... troubled... But it seems to me that he can't control his temper but perhaps still loves his wife and son in a twisted, broken sort of way. The language in the text that portrays Papa as possibly "warm" is the image of "waltzing" and him holding onto his son and carrying him off to bed. I think the author views his father as angry, troubled, but hard-working (because of the dirt on his hands). The mother seems to be passive and afraid of her husband. Maybe she is silent because she would rather her son be mistreated than herself...
The rhythm in this poem is very much (and early) like a walt, swinging back and forth, consistently. That lends to the image of a waltz which represent this family's relationship and discord.
I didn't think of the mother being quiet because she wanted her son to be mistreated instead. That's a really good insight!
ReplyDeleteI agree Indi!! It is a twisted relationship and yeah I didn't think of the mother acting the way she does for her own benefit! Very clever!
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