The poem “My Papa’s Waltz” can easily be interpreted in two different ways. Before class discussion, I was convinced that “My Papa’s Waltz was a somber poem that expresses a son’s love for his father, despite his father’s alcoholism and abusive ways. I thought that, although the poem states playful interactions between the father and son, the majority of the poem focuses on the father’s drunken aggression toward the boy. After discussing “My Papa’s Waltz” in class, I realized if the poem is interpreted literally, it is about a young boy, remembering a night with his father when they danced around the house aggressively. With this analysis, there is no intentional abuse on the father’s part, and no clear evidence of alcoholism. Now, I believe the poem is about that of my second interpretation, but both interpretations are admissible.
If the poem is not read literally, there is a vast amount of evidence that, “My Papa’s Waltz,” is the story a young boy revealing the hardships he has lived through with his alcoholic father, while still possessing a great love for his dad. The boy would then be the narrator of “My Papa’s Waltz” and thus the son of an alcoholic father. If the poem is not read literally, it is easy to focus on the physical abuse, and anger the father possesses, which was directed toward the boy. In the first line of the poem, the son is speaking to his dad and says, “The whiskey on your breath/Could make a small boy dizzy.” Here the son is telling his father, that his drinking is a problem, and the boy is worried. In the next line, he says, “But I held on like death: such waltzing was not easy.” Here, thoughts are seemingly directed toward abuse. The son is telling his father, that he struggled to survive (mentally and physically) in the home, but did everything he could to try and survive and rise above the problem. The pain that comes through in this sentence is subtle, yet intense. In the next stanza, the tone begins to change. The violent acts, change to fun, rough-housing. The son expresses how his father and he physically fooled around in the kitchen. There is a sense of happiness and joy here. But this feeling of joy does not last long, for the tone changes again in stanza three when the son returns to speaking of his father’s beatings. Beatings are reasonably inferred because the son says that the father held his wrist. The grabbing of a wrist suggests harsher interaction. If the father was not trying to harm the boy, it would be more logical that he would hold his hand, not his wrist. In this stanza, the boy also suggests that his father seemed to brush him with a buckle. This could refer to a time when the father was drunk, and went to strike his son using a belt, missing his backside completely, and instead, hit his ear. The negative tone continues in stanza four when the son says, “You beat time on my head/With a palm caked hard by dirt.” But in the second half of the sentence the mood and tone change with, “Then you waltzed me off to bed/Still clinging to your shirt.” The stanza starts off with a description of the torture the boy endured, but ends with the boy confessing love for his father, despite his faults. After reading this poem, if it is not interpreted literally, it is evident that even though the son has been beat around by his dad, he still loves him and has a desire to be loved in return. Thus, even after a violent battle, the son remains loyal to his father, and clings to him, in search of love and compassion.
If the poem is interpreted literally, it is clear that the young son is remembering a night when he and his father waltzed around the home. The father is intoxicated, but that does not make him an alcoholic, for if you interpret the poem literally, the poem is one full scene, but if not interpreted literally, each stanza seems to be a different period of time, which makes the first sentence of the poem more significant. The waltzing is still rough, yet not intentional. The father holding the boy by the wrist now shows the father is holding him by the wrist due to the dance. It is not an act of violence at all. Also, when the boy explains that, “With every step you missed/My right ear scrapped a buckle,” it shows that when the father missed a step in the dance, the small boy would scrap his ear on his father’s belt buckle. The last stanza influenced me that the poem is not the grim tale I had one believed, but a happy memory. The last line states, “You beat time on my head/ With a palm caked hard by dirt/Then waltzed me off to bed/Still clinging to your shirt.” Here the father is helping his son keep time with the steps, and the boy is grasping on to his father’s shirt, and while holding on to his dad, they continue to waltz to bed.
I now interpret the poem literally. The father and son are dancing and it seems the young boy remembers his life with his father as joyful and playful. He and his father have a close relationship. And although the father has been drinking and the dance is more threatening, (like when they are dancing in the kitchen and knock pans from the shelves) neither feel as if they are in total danger. They are energized and excited.
Thus, throughout “My Papa’s Waltz,” I view the father as a loving, caring, dad, and not a belligerent drunk. After discussion, I was not left with the unsettled response I began with. I have been persuaded that “My Papa’s Waltz,” is an uplifting story of father and son sharing a precious moment together, whilst waltzing around the house.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Jane Eyre
(sorry this is so late, as of last thursday I was still unable to post blogs)
I am reading Jane Eyre and I absolutely love it! I chose this book because my mom told me she has read it three times because she loves it so much, so I figured I would like it too. I also have heard a lot about the book and figured this would be a good time to read it. I am around page 210, so I still have a little way to go.
I think that Jane is such a strong admirable character and I really admire her. I love how Jane is so independent and always stands up for herself. I really enjoyed the beginning of the book, when she was a child at Gateshead, because she always spoke her mind and did what she felt is right.
Right now, I am reading about Jane’s time as a governess at Thornfield. Jane has just conversed with Mr. Rochester and I feel like a strong relationship may develop between them. Again, Jane is self-dependent, and a good role model.
I think I may write my paper on Jane’s struggle and how she has persevered and overcome tough times. I want to write about her strength and independence, and how she is someone to admire.
I am reading Jane Eyre and I absolutely love it! I chose this book because my mom told me she has read it three times because she loves it so much, so I figured I would like it too. I also have heard a lot about the book and figured this would be a good time to read it. I am around page 210, so I still have a little way to go.
I think that Jane is such a strong admirable character and I really admire her. I love how Jane is so independent and always stands up for herself. I really enjoyed the beginning of the book, when she was a child at Gateshead, because she always spoke her mind and did what she felt is right.
Right now, I am reading about Jane’s time as a governess at Thornfield. Jane has just conversed with Mr. Rochester and I feel like a strong relationship may develop between them. Again, Jane is self-dependent, and a good role model.
I think I may write my paper on Jane’s struggle and how she has persevered and overcome tough times. I want to write about her strength and independence, and how she is someone to admire.
Monday, April 6, 2009
My Papa's Waltz
My Papa’s Waltz
“My Papa’s Walt” is a somber poem that expresses a son’s love for his father, despite his father’s alcoholism and abusive ways. The title is quite ironic, because waltz gives readers the impression that the poem is uplifting, but in reality, the poem mainly expresses a sons concern. Although the poem states playful interactions between the father and son, the majority of the poem focuses on the father’s drunken aggression toward the boy.
The narrator of “My Papa’s Waltz” is the son of an alcoholic father. This is evident through the tough exterior the boy puts on and the rough-housing manner in which father and son interact. When I first read the poem, I did not realize the love the son possesses for his father. Instead, I focused on the physical abuse, and anger that I saw in the father, which was directed toward the boy. In the first line of the poem, the son is speaking to his dad and says, “The whiskey on your breath could make a small boy dizzy.” Here I feel the son is trying to explain to his father, that his drinking is a problem, and the boy is worried. These descriptive first lines, place the reader in the situation of the young boy breathing in the whiskey scent. The reader can place themselves in the young boy’s situation, and can picture being compelled back, once the father begins to speak, due to the surprise of the strong odor from his breath. In the next line, he says, “But I held on like death: such waltzing was not easy.” Here my thoughts are directed toward abuse. The son is telling his father, that he struggled to survive (mentally and physically) in the home, but did everything he could to try and survive and rise above the problem. The pain that comes through in this sentence is subtle, yet intense. In the next stanza, the tone begins to change. The violent acts, change to fun, rough housing. The son expresses how his father and he physically fooled around in the kitchen. There is a sense of happiness and joy here. But this feeling of joy does not last long, for the tone changes again in stanza three when the son returns to speaking of his father’s beatings. Beatings are reasonably inferred because the son says that the father held his wrist. The grabbing of a wrist suggests harsher interaction. If the father was not trying to harm the boy, it would be more logical that he would hold his hand, not his wrist. In this stanza, the boy also suggests that his father seemed to brush him with a buckle. I believe this refers to a time when the father was drunk, and went to strike his son using a belt, missing his backside completely, and instead, hit his ear. The negative tone continues in stanza four when the son says, “You beat time on my head with a palm caked hard by dirt.” But in the second half of the sentence the mood and tone change with, “Then you waltzed me off to bed still clinging to your shirt.” The stanza starts off with a description of the torture the boy endured, but ends with the boy confessing love for his father, despite his faults. Even though the son has been beat around by his dad, he still loves him and has a desire to be loved in return. Thus, even after a violent battle, the son remains loyal to his father, and clings to him, in search of love and compassion.
In my opinion, this poem expresses all the negative things the son wishes to tell his father, but it also expresses the hope and love the boy carries for his dad. I do feel that overall the son has suffered a very difficult life, but in the end, he seems to hide those memories, and embraces the positive moments between he and his father.
While reading descriptions of the poem, I read that “My Papa’s Waltz” is a comedy. No matter how many times I read this, or how many times I search for irony, I am unable to obtain it. I do not see this poem as funny at all, even if that was the author’s intention. I feel that this poem is about a young boy reaching out to his father in desperation. Throughout “My Papa’s Waltz,” I view the father as dirty, drunk, and belligerent, and I see the son yearning for affection from his father. I felt that the poem was very honest, and that is what captured my attention, and provoked my unsettled response toward the poem.
780 words
“My Papa’s Walt” is a somber poem that expresses a son’s love for his father, despite his father’s alcoholism and abusive ways. The title is quite ironic, because waltz gives readers the impression that the poem is uplifting, but in reality, the poem mainly expresses a sons concern. Although the poem states playful interactions between the father and son, the majority of the poem focuses on the father’s drunken aggression toward the boy.
The narrator of “My Papa’s Waltz” is the son of an alcoholic father. This is evident through the tough exterior the boy puts on and the rough-housing manner in which father and son interact. When I first read the poem, I did not realize the love the son possesses for his father. Instead, I focused on the physical abuse, and anger that I saw in the father, which was directed toward the boy. In the first line of the poem, the son is speaking to his dad and says, “The whiskey on your breath could make a small boy dizzy.” Here I feel the son is trying to explain to his father, that his drinking is a problem, and the boy is worried. These descriptive first lines, place the reader in the situation of the young boy breathing in the whiskey scent. The reader can place themselves in the young boy’s situation, and can picture being compelled back, once the father begins to speak, due to the surprise of the strong odor from his breath. In the next line, he says, “But I held on like death: such waltzing was not easy.” Here my thoughts are directed toward abuse. The son is telling his father, that he struggled to survive (mentally and physically) in the home, but did everything he could to try and survive and rise above the problem. The pain that comes through in this sentence is subtle, yet intense. In the next stanza, the tone begins to change. The violent acts, change to fun, rough housing. The son expresses how his father and he physically fooled around in the kitchen. There is a sense of happiness and joy here. But this feeling of joy does not last long, for the tone changes again in stanza three when the son returns to speaking of his father’s beatings. Beatings are reasonably inferred because the son says that the father held his wrist. The grabbing of a wrist suggests harsher interaction. If the father was not trying to harm the boy, it would be more logical that he would hold his hand, not his wrist. In this stanza, the boy also suggests that his father seemed to brush him with a buckle. I believe this refers to a time when the father was drunk, and went to strike his son using a belt, missing his backside completely, and instead, hit his ear. The negative tone continues in stanza four when the son says, “You beat time on my head with a palm caked hard by dirt.” But in the second half of the sentence the mood and tone change with, “Then you waltzed me off to bed still clinging to your shirt.” The stanza starts off with a description of the torture the boy endured, but ends with the boy confessing love for his father, despite his faults. Even though the son has been beat around by his dad, he still loves him and has a desire to be loved in return. Thus, even after a violent battle, the son remains loyal to his father, and clings to him, in search of love and compassion.
In my opinion, this poem expresses all the negative things the son wishes to tell his father, but it also expresses the hope and love the boy carries for his dad. I do feel that overall the son has suffered a very difficult life, but in the end, he seems to hide those memories, and embraces the positive moments between he and his father.
While reading descriptions of the poem, I read that “My Papa’s Waltz” is a comedy. No matter how many times I read this, or how many times I search for irony, I am unable to obtain it. I do not see this poem as funny at all, even if that was the author’s intention. I feel that this poem is about a young boy reaching out to his father in desperation. Throughout “My Papa’s Waltz,” I view the father as dirty, drunk, and belligerent, and I see the son yearning for affection from his father. I felt that the poem was very honest, and that is what captured my attention, and provoked my unsettled response toward the poem.
780 words
Monday, March 9, 2009
The Reality of "Death of a Salesman"
In class, someone brought up that they did not believe that “Death of a Salesman” is a realistic story. It was said to be over exaggerated, and not believable. I personally think that “Death of a Salesman” is a very realistic story, and one that is probably common in households throughout the United States. Everyone wants to reach a certain level of what they believe could be seen as success. Many Americans try to reach success at early ages through schooling. After that, it is a competition of who will reach the highest, desired, level in the work force. In America, there seems to be a preconceived notion of what success is. The term “success” seems to be granted to those who have developed a certain wealth, hold a prominent position in the work force, or achieve some sort of notoriety. Unfortunately, sometimes, through the struggle to gain success, people stop thinking about what makes them happy, and instead get caught up in reaching more glory. Many workers do not always seem content with the position they hold, and always strive to keep climbing the business ladder. I think Willy is a victim of this. He was never satisfied being a salesman. Therefore, he always put on a front to make others believe he was more powerful than that. He wanted to gain success by making people like him, and by gaining wealth. Sadly, through Willy’s struggle, he lost the ability to look for the good in his life, and the areas where he had been successful, (such as his family) and instead became brainwashed with society’s standards of success. I think it is not rare for people to lose themselves on their journey to success like Willy Lohman. At the end of Willy’s life, Willy lost all hope, and all self integrity. In his eyes he had failed. He had never accomplished what he had always pretended to others he had, and what he had strived for throughout his entire life. For Willy, suicide took away the pain and emptiness he had inside of him. He felt worthless. He even said once, that he is worth more dead than alive, so in his eyes he believed he was helping his family by giving them the money he could never provide, not even considering that his love for them means so much more. I think it really is tragic that people can get so caught up in society expectations, but I think it is probably an easier thing to do than one would think.
424 words
424 words
Sunday, February 22, 2009
A Doll's House
In the beginning of the short story “A Doll’s House,” the main character, Nora, at first glance acts ditzy, and child-like. She seems to have no depth and follows the petty rules enforced by her husband. Her dumb act irritates and annoys readers. They react emotionally to her foolishness. They insist she is clueless and are angered by her stupidity, but in fact, I do not believe she is dumb at all. I feel Nora does not know herself, and therefore follows her husband’s guidelines and aims to please him for she does not know any other way to behave. Nora’s husband Torvald helps Nora continue to act naïve. He treats her as though she is a toy, or a doll, that he has to play with. He does not treat her with any true respect or treat her like a person with any substance. Because of the pleased response Nora receives from her husband when she acts ditzy or follows his commands, she continues to act in an immature manner. Nora does not know any better than to please her husband. She does not think of herself or how she feels, and therefore does not her know herself. Nora does not know what she wants, what she needs, or what she deserves. Nora’s relationship with her husband is empty and fake because Nora is unable to reveal her true self in fear of what may come from it. So, instead of listening to her thoughts, Nora ignores them and plays the role of Torvald’s ideal wife. But I believe in the end, Nora will know better and develop self-respect allowing her to no longer play the role of a “doll” but instead become a woman who learns about herself, and will finally realize what she deserves and needs.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Hamlet's Justified Insanity
This past week in class we discussed Hamlet’s possible insanity and his thoughts of suicide. The majority of the class seemed to believe that Hamlet is somewhat crazy, but I think his actions are an outcome from stress and anxiety. Over the course of only a few days, Hamlet lost his father, discovered his uncle was the killer, and was betrayed by his mother. On top of that, Hamlet believes the woman he loves, Ophelia, does not have to same feelings for him. It takes a very strong person to be able to remain stable when all of this stress is piled onto their lives. It does not surprise me that Hamlet questions whether he wants to live or not, and I think that if Hamlet is too depressed to live, it is okay for him to take his own life.
When Hamlet sees his father as a ghost, he is told to kill his uncle to avenge his father’s death. At this point Hamlet himself could be questioning his sanity, but despite a possible sense that the ghost may not truly be his father, Hamlet feels he has an obligation to avenge his father’s death. The thought of murdering someone I feel has shaken Hamlet. He does not seem like a violent man, and when Hamlet has an opportunity to kill his uncle, he stops because he thinks that if he kills his uncle while his uncle is praying, his uncle could go to heaven. In class, some people suggested that he was just a coward, but I think he wants to make sure that if he kills his uncle, it is done at the right time and is the right thing to do. Murdering his uncle may be too difficult of a task for Hamlet to fulfill. He may not have the strength to murder a man, and the responsibility he feels toward his father may be too much for him to bear. At this point, I feel that Hamlet feels too weak to live, but after Hamlet discovers Ophelia has killed herself, he seems to realize the finality of death, and steers somewhat away from the thought of taking his own life.
Overall, I do not think that Hamlet is crazy, and I think his thoughts of suicide are justified. Even though Hamlet questions whether his life is worth living, and he seems to be ready to give up, I think that he is too scared to kill himself. Once Ophelia is dead, he seems to realize there is more to live for, and life shouldn’t end so suddenly. I believe this will keep Hamlet from killing himself, and he will become a stronger man.
When Hamlet sees his father as a ghost, he is told to kill his uncle to avenge his father’s death. At this point Hamlet himself could be questioning his sanity, but despite a possible sense that the ghost may not truly be his father, Hamlet feels he has an obligation to avenge his father’s death. The thought of murdering someone I feel has shaken Hamlet. He does not seem like a violent man, and when Hamlet has an opportunity to kill his uncle, he stops because he thinks that if he kills his uncle while his uncle is praying, his uncle could go to heaven. In class, some people suggested that he was just a coward, but I think he wants to make sure that if he kills his uncle, it is done at the right time and is the right thing to do. Murdering his uncle may be too difficult of a task for Hamlet to fulfill. He may not have the strength to murder a man, and the responsibility he feels toward his father may be too much for him to bear. At this point, I feel that Hamlet feels too weak to live, but after Hamlet discovers Ophelia has killed herself, he seems to realize the finality of death, and steers somewhat away from the thought of taking his own life.
Overall, I do not think that Hamlet is crazy, and I think his thoughts of suicide are justified. Even though Hamlet questions whether his life is worth living, and he seems to be ready to give up, I think that he is too scared to kill himself. Once Ophelia is dead, he seems to realize there is more to live for, and life shouldn’t end so suddenly. I believe this will keep Hamlet from killing himself, and he will become a stronger man.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Antigone or Creon
Should the play Antigone be called Antigone or should it be called Creon? To me it seems as though Creon is the most influential character of the play and Antigone makes his character stronger and helps lead Creon to his demise. Throughout the play, Antigone is only in about two scenes, whereas Creon is in almost every scene. Although the reader draws a connection and a respect with Antigone, by the end of the play, the reader is solely focusing on Creon, and what is to become of him. Antigone is seen as a tragic character, but could Creon be one as well? I believe he is. He paved the way to his own downfall (with the help of drama Antigone caused), and even though throughout the story I was angry with him, by the end, I sympathize for him. He realizes that he had become too proud and because of his hubris, the ones he loved had taken their own lives. I will admit, it did take him a long time to confess to his wrong-doings, and to allow others to help him realize the corruption he caused, but once he confronted it, he took full responsibility for his actions. When Antigone was going to be killed for burying her brother, she gives in, and kills herself. Whereas, when Creon realizes that he was a part of the cause of both his son and Antigone's death, and was becoming feared by the townspeople, he confesses and feels remorse for his wrong-doings, and is punished by death.
Despite the fact that both Antigone and Creon cause a great impact on the reader, I believe the true focus of the play is on Creon. The reader finishes the play thinking of Creon's death and is left pondering the words, "There is no happiness where there is no wisdom; No wisdom but in submission to the gods. Big words are always punished, And proud men in old age learn to be wise." That is why I believe that play should be named after Creon and not Antigone.
(345 words)
Despite the fact that both Antigone and Creon cause a great impact on the reader, I believe the true focus of the play is on Creon. The reader finishes the play thinking of Creon's death and is left pondering the words, "There is no happiness where there is no wisdom; No wisdom but in submission to the gods. Big words are always punished, And proud men in old age learn to be wise." That is why I believe that play should be named after Creon and not Antigone.
(345 words)
Sunday, January 11, 2009
The Death of Ivan Ilynch
In the novella "The Death of Ivan llynch"
the characters care solely about their status and wealth. The obsession to achieve wealth and status make people unable to remember life’s importances. Such qualities include integrity, kindness, and respect. In the first page of the novella family and friends gather for Ivan Ilych’s funeral, yet it is said that when the men hear of Ilynch’s death their first thought is the possibility of self promotion within the work force. Ilynch’s best friend “sacrificed his usual nap” in order to attend the funeral. Through these actions it is apparent that in this society the people are self-centered and have no worry for anyone else’s well-being. At the funeral Ilynch’s wife describes the pain she suffered in her husband’s last days, for she had to tolerate his screams and tend to his illness. She obviously had no concern for her husband in his last days and felt no sorrow once he passed on.
During Ilynch’s life it seemed he was unhappy and lived to climb the social latter. His goal in life was to fulfill his duty and his duty was considered by authority figures. During Ilynch’s childhood it seemed he had a moral compass, but his compass became skewed as society views altered his mindset. In school he felt disgusted with himself when he disobeyed, but when he saw people of good position do the same things, he felt that they were not as bad. His actions seemed to worsen as he grew older. Ilynch was well liked by everyone and said to be good natured, but he had an affair while married. Ilynch did not marry for love. Although he was in love with his wife, he chose to marry because society looked highly on their match.
In the first half of this novella, one gets the feeling that people have lost the ability to think for themselves and instead of thinking about their actions or following their hearts, they are swayed to meet society’s standards. Money and status are held in higher regard than integrity and self-respect. Everyone is in competition with one another to get ahead first and farthest. Consideration of others is ignored and the quest for self gain prevails.
372 words
the characters care solely about their status and wealth. The obsession to achieve wealth and status make people unable to remember life’s importances. Such qualities include integrity, kindness, and respect. In the first page of the novella family and friends gather for Ivan Ilych’s funeral, yet it is said that when the men hear of Ilynch’s death their first thought is the possibility of self promotion within the work force. Ilynch’s best friend “sacrificed his usual nap” in order to attend the funeral. Through these actions it is apparent that in this society the people are self-centered and have no worry for anyone else’s well-being. At the funeral Ilynch’s wife describes the pain she suffered in her husband’s last days, for she had to tolerate his screams and tend to his illness. She obviously had no concern for her husband in his last days and felt no sorrow once he passed on.
During Ilynch’s life it seemed he was unhappy and lived to climb the social latter. His goal in life was to fulfill his duty and his duty was considered by authority figures. During Ilynch’s childhood it seemed he had a moral compass, but his compass became skewed as society views altered his mindset. In school he felt disgusted with himself when he disobeyed, but when he saw people of good position do the same things, he felt that they were not as bad. His actions seemed to worsen as he grew older. Ilynch was well liked by everyone and said to be good natured, but he had an affair while married. Ilynch did not marry for love. Although he was in love with his wife, he chose to marry because society looked highly on their match.
In the first half of this novella, one gets the feeling that people have lost the ability to think for themselves and instead of thinking about their actions or following their hearts, they are swayed to meet society’s standards. Money and status are held in higher regard than integrity and self-respect. Everyone is in competition with one another to get ahead first and farthest. Consideration of others is ignored and the quest for self gain prevails.
372 words
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