Modification for a comparative paper

Symbolisms of these two poems are also an important part to illustrate the relationship between father and son. In both poems, it is obvious that the fathers are always hardworking, and their hands are destroyed by work. For example, in My Papa’s Waltz, “The hand that held my wrist Was battered on one knuckle” (Roethke 9-10). In Those Winter Sundays, “then with cracked hands that ached from labor in the weekday weather made banked fire blaze” (Hayden 3-5). Fathers are always bread makers in the family, and they are so exhausted because they need to work and take care of their families. Even though, they work in a harsh environment, they still help to manage houses. There is not a lot of infers in My Papa’s Waltz, but there are enough illustrations in Those Winter Sundays. The father in Those Winter Sundays also need to do a lot of work to make sure his children have a comfortable zone to live. The word “Sundays” means the father would do the work in every Sunday. This poem is meant to sing the praise of sacrifice that father has done to the family, even though he can’t get any reward. Both poems also convey the emotions that how sons feel about their fathers. Based on the background information, author of My Papa’s Waltz didn’t have father’s company in his childhood and really miss his father. This poem is trying to depict a picture that father has a good time with his son. He is eager to get his father’s attentions and love. The dance waltz involves interaction and emotion transferring. However, father and son both cannot have a good move of waltz, which form a contrast with elegant waltz. It shows the relationship between father and son is emotional and contradictory. Nevertheless, the poem, “Those Winter Sundays”, is trying to portray a hard-working, serious and selfless father. The father sacrifices a lot for this family, such as making “banked fire blaze”, waking up children and polishing their shoes (Hayden). Even when father do a lot of work in the Sunday morning, but no one thank him. This poem is trying to convey the feelings that children miss the chance to thank their father who have sacrificed a lot. In this way, the personality of father is greater, and father is like a lonely soldier fighting the battle, but he is still persistent to do it in every winter Sundays. All in short, fathers are kind of lighthouse to their children. Fathers sacrifice themselves to make children’s lives better. They won’t stop their loving actions due to the relationship with their sons.

These two poems use different angles to illustrate the relationship between fathers and sons. In My Papa’s Waltz, “The whiskey on your breath /Could make a small boy dizzy; But I hung on like death: Such waltzing was not easy” (Roethke 1-4). The son dance waltz with his drunk father and the son might get hurt. However, during their dance, there is so many emotions behind this funny waltz and the mess which is caused by their steps rather than just superficial chaos. Totally, atmosphere in that house is warm and bright. This poem mainly wants to show the interdependence between fathers and sons. Contrast, in Those Winter Sundays, author lay a “blueblack” atmosphere which is totally different from which in My Papa’s Waltz. “Speaking indifferently to him, who had driven out the cold and polished my good shoes as well” (Hayden 10- 12). The relationship between father and son in this poem is not harmonious. Even the father has done so many housework to make the son live better, “No one ever thanked him” (Hayden 4). Actually, behind this embarrassing relationship, it is eager for being grateful to his father. In general, the son in My Papa’s Waltz wants to get his father’s care and love. Therefore, even though his father is drunk, he is still willing to dance waltz which he is not good at all with his father. This scene is easy to achieve in the normal family, but for author, it is luxurious, because his father passed away in his childhood. Nevertheless, in Those Winter Sundays, after so much the son’s father has done, the son speaks “indifferently” to him. This word makes the emotion what author wants to convey reach a climax. In this poem, author is more likely to depict a picture that the son and father have controversial relationship. Author wants to use this non-harmonious relationship and serious atmosphere to make a contrast with the emotion that author wants to convey. The emotion is to compliment selflessness and responsibleness of the father. All in short, the combination of two poems is a perfect way to illustrate that father and son is controversial but emotional. Both poems build strong connections between father and sons, and they can have resonation with readers. Children might argue with their father or they might not get along well with their fathers, but they still share a bloodline and they still love each other.

In conclusion, children depend on their fathers because their fathers always help them to solve and manage all kinds of problems and stuffs. Sons might have quarrel with their fathers, but in deep heart, they love each other. Some sons really want to have their father’s company, some sons do not have chance to thank their father. No matter in My Papa’s Waltz or in Those Winter Sundays, they both illustrate the father’s importance and the emotional connection between fathers and sons. Father always loves his family and wants his family to have a better life. No matter what happens between fathers and sons, fathers always treat their sons with a heart full of love. Actually, the relationship between father and son is simple, that is they always love each other, and they just use different ways to show.

Works Citied

Hayden, Robert. “Those Winter Sundays.” The Carolina Reader, edited by Kelsey Flint-Martin with Ethan J.H. Knight, U of UC-Press, 2019, pp. 310-311.

Roethke, Theodore. “My Papa’s Waltz.” The Carolina Reader, edited by Kelsey Flint-Martin with Ethan J.H. Knight, U of UC-Press, 2019, pp. 310-311.