The father and son in the poem “My Papas Waltz” by Theodore Roethke have a complex relationship mixed with fear, joy, and love. The boy says that he “hung on like death” when his father was dancing. This implies a sense of fear between the boy, because he does not quite trust his father to … Read more
My Papas Waltz “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke A young boy is waltzing with his drunken father. His mother is unhappy about the commotion they’re making. They danced until the young boy was tired and put him to bed. The time that Theodore Roethke had spent in the greenhouse, owned by his father and … Read more
My Papa’s Waltz Response In “My Papa’s Waltz”, Roethke discusses a very heartbreaking and distressful situation. He talks about alcoholism in the family and how it affects the members of the family. Growing up in a family full of alcoholism and abuse, I can relate to the point of view that this poem is written … Read more
