FATHERS

The simple word father can conjure up many images and emotions. A father can be a warm and joyful memory, or a dark and dismal one. Two poets confront these memories in Sylvia Plath's poem "My father and husband "Daddy" and in the poem by Theodore Roethke "My Papa's Waltz". At the first look these might seem to be very similar, but upon further investigation it becomes clear that these two poems are more different than same. The two poets write about their fathers, and their childhood experiences with them. The two poems both focus on the subject of a father, but have significant differences with how and what each conveys to the reader. Plath poem relays a message or explanation of the awfull relationship she had with her father. She is explaining to us that her farther was more of a symbol, rather than a caring and loving man. In sharp contrast to Roethke's simple poem intends to bestow a warmth and joyfulness in remembrance of his father. He intends to show us his endearment of this hard working man he called papa. The two poets use all the poetical elements too express their personal view of a father. Each share the same subject but use individual styles of poem structure, language, rhyme, tone, situation, and speaker to express their opinions. These differences allow us as readers to understand the authors intent and main idea of each poem. The first obvious difference in each poem is the gender of the speaker. This difference may be reflected in the opinions and body of each poem. Sons have different experiences with a father than daughters do with their fathers. Sons and fathers most commonly share a much closer bond than fathers and daughters. This relationship may have had some bearing on the opinions and feeling of each speaker. Plath's relationship with her father may have been bad due to that lack of this gender bond.