There are two types of people in this world: those that see alcohol as a form of therapy, and those that see it as a drug. Although it may lead to fun times and good memories, it can also cause people to act in ways of aggression, stupidity, and carelessness without even realizing it. The poem "My Papa's Waltz”, by Theodore Roethke, tells the story of the relationship between a father and son that is affected by this vice. The title may come across as misleading because although it may seem like a heart-warming poem, the "dance" the son takes with his dad is far from entertaining. By examining Roethke’s use of imagery, symbolism, and word choice, the audience may come to realize that the father's alcohol consumption causes him to act in violent ways that are harmful to his son. The pain the father inflicts makes their relationship difficult and complicated. Whether he realizes it or not, the father is bringing destruction to his family, yet as his son, the speaker cannot help but love him still.

Roethke uses imagery to appeal to the senses of the reader in order to show the way the father treated his son. In the beginning of the poem, we are aware of the intoxicated state the father is in because the first line says, "The whiskey on your breath could make a small boy feel dizzy." Immediately the reader can imagine how drunk the father is, and that his overconsumption of alcohol makes him clumsy and loud. The speaker recalls, "We romped until the pans slid from the kitchen shelf" (line 5) as he describes the ruckus and chaos the "dance" between the father and son is turning into. It is ironic how the waltz is supposed to be an elegant and graceful dance, yet the relationship between them is anything but. It has now turned to a romp where the steps are more energetic and rough. Another way the author uses imagery is when he describes the father's palms as being “caked hard by dirt" (line 14). This shows how the father's aggression and lack of fear to get his hands dirty, may correlate with his actions towards his son. Likewise, the description of the father's bruised hand, "battered on one knuckle" (line 10) could symbolize his aggression and violence also. It is plausible that this injured hand is from a fight or result of anger. On the other hand, it is also possible that it is a result of the father working in a greenhouse. Seeing the hard work his father puts in to support his family could make the young boy see him in a different light. The imagery Roethke uses develops the idea that the boy may be conflicted between respecting his father for his work ethic and yet, still acknowledging the consequences of his violent actions. 

Along with imagery, the author uses the literary technique of symbolism in order to depict the unhealthy relationship. The whole waltz or dance itself mainly symbolizes the relationship this boy had with his father growing up and how life was like between them. It acts as a controlling metaphor throughout the whole poem. It seems that this dance was not very easy to keep up with. When the speaker recollects, "At every step you missed my right ear scraped a buckle" (line 11,12) he could be referring to the mistakes the dad is making and the pain it is causing to those around him. Since in a waltz you have a partner, every wrong move the father makes is also affecting the one he is dancing with. These often missed steps or mistakes could be due to the fact that the father is intoxicated. Alcoholism has been known to possibly not only ruin a person's life, but the lives of those who love them as well.

As in the case of other short poems, in this poem, too, every word contributes to its ambivalent message. Often times, the words or phrases Roethke chooses have double meanings. Instead of saying "keep the time", he writes, "You beat time on my head" (line 13). Keeping time is something that is often brought up or referred to when talking about dancing. Not only does this specific choice of words portray the father as violent, but it also suggests the extent to which his aggressive routine has been haunting the speaker. Another choice of words that stands out is when he depicts the boy tightly holding onto his father throughout the dance with the words, "hung like death" (line 3). Death is unavoidable and the one thing every human cannot escape from. It takes hold of each and every person and keeps a tight grip, no matter where life takes them. With every twist and twirl the father made in the dance, the boy could not help but hold on for he loved his father. Although the father did not make it easy and caused pain with a lot of the mistakes he made, the speaker continued to love him. The word choice the poet uses throughout the poem is so important because even though it is about a "dance" which is often upbeat and fun, the true meaning behind this memory is depressing and heartbreaking. It shows a relationship between father and son marred by alcohol, and a father's inability to see the pain his mistakes are creating.

Although something I will never be able to relate to personally, the relationship between a father and his son seems to be sometimes complicated. There is a fine line between tough love and showing no love at all. Something about a man and his pride really makes it hard for him to show true emotion and realize when he is making mistakes. Adding alcohol to this equation only makes the problem more difficult. Throughout "My Papa's Waltz," a son is torn between resenting the father for the pain he inflicts on him and loving him in spite of it. 
