‘My Papa’s Waltz’
‘My Papa’s Waltz’ has been viewed as either a poem concerning abuse or one about a fun-loving relationship between a child and his father. This poem is one of Theodore Roethke’s best ones which appear simple at a glance, but when studied keenly there is a lot learned from it. For this paper, the argument is that the poem is about abuse.
Abuse and Child Abuse
Abuse, and in this case, child abuse, refers to physical mistreatment which sadly happens to children everywhere. The poem mentioned above to a certain degree gives a reader an insight into child abuse. From reading the first line ‘the whiskey on your breathe,’ it is obvious that the father is a drunkard. From here, we slightly understand what the young boy undergoes when his father is home. ‘…could make a small boy dizzy…’ is the second line which shows what the little boy is exposed to. Most children living with alcoholic parents are affected both physically and emotionally because of how the parents treat them. The case of his little boy would not be any different.
Fear and Hurting in the Dance
Although the boy dances with his father he is afraid because he is drunk. It is evident that he, just like any other child, loves his father, but he is not pleased with his drinking. He does not mind dancing with his father because probably this is the only quality time they could spend together. However, the father hurts his wrist since the former’s hand appears rough. We get this from the line ‘was battered on one knuckle.’ Also, the father misses steps while dancing because he is drunk, hence hurting the boy who is probably too afraid to complain.
Although the father’s actions are not intended, it does not spare the fact that he is hurting the little boy. Considering his age, this is a form of abuse which stems from his father’s drunken character.
