In “My Papa’s Waltz”, Theodore Roethke uses surrounding words and elements within the text to portray that the waltz he is referring to, is indeed him being beaten by his father. The author repeating the word waltz, and even using it in the title, enables readers to assume that the heart of this poem will deal with the whatever this waltz entails.  Roethke’s language in the surrounding text, hints at the value of specific words. The tone used in the poem, and the way he is able to discuss the waltz in such a calm matter, illustrates the fact that Roethke is familiar with the waltz he is partaking in. As the waltz progresses, there is a constant negative mood throughout the poem which enables readers to look at the poem in a harmful way.

The author uses the word waltz in a very unique way. Waltzing is an elegant, joyful, dance routine that is completed with a partner. While the waltzing occurring in this poem is anything but calm, the author uses such a routine word to describe the incident because he has grown common to the trauma being caused by his father. The way Roethke refers to this interaction between him and his father is nonchalant, and seems rather emotionless. By Roethke not showing his emotion in the text, it can be concluded that the waltz between him and his father is something that happens most nights in their household. 

Throughout all the places the word waltz is present, it carries the most meaning in the title. The entire poem is about something that seems pretty straight forward; the waltz between a father and his son. The title makes it clear that Roethke is not talking about a dance, as it refers to the waltz as his father’s, instead of a dance they shared. By exhibiting the waltz as something only his father is doing, Theodore Roethke renders the idea that this waltz was not a dance, but rather a physical encounter between father and son From the first two lines, it is clear that the father is a drinker, and currently drunk. By starting the poem with such a negative connotation, Roethke plants the seed that the mood of the text is dark, and his father is a dangerous parental figure.  In the next line, the author relates to the way he held onto the father with the word, “death.” (Roethke 90) The way in which he describes how he hung on, shows that nothing good is coming from the current situation. If the waltz was truly a dance, Roethke would’ve used a more joyous word to describe the way in which he was holding onto his father. In a bordering line, the author uses language that can be directly related to David Foster Wallace’s, This is Water. By the author referring to the waltz as, “not easy” (Roethke 90) reminds us of the water; being abused by someone you are supposed to love is not easy. He uses such simple terms because the perspective of this is from when he was a child. Even though it can already be established that the waltz is not a dance, the author adds this line for emphasis, and an understanding that whatever this waltz includes, is anything but elegant and joyous. 

Roethke does not show his own emotion, but makes sure to include the emotion of his Mother. He implements her emotion in the surrounding text as another way of showing that this waltz is aggressive and traumatizing. While this waltz is happening, his mother’s countenance, “could not unfrown itself.” (Roethke 91) This deals with a frown much deeper than the one on her face, at the time of the waltz. Not only is her child being beaten by his father, but his mother is watching, and the frown that is inside of her is growing, with no sign of stopping. The Mother’s frown cannot heal itself because after so many times of seeing this waltz, she is scarred permanently with the fact that she could not protect her son from this waltzing monster. The mother’s emotions are included in the text as a direct relation to the meaning of the word waltz. If the father cared about his family, he would not intentionally do anything to hurt them. Yet, he is continuously waltzing with his son, knowing that his wife is distraught in the process. This surrounding text proves that his wife’s emotion was added to the poem to confirm that the meaning of the word waltz is the father physically abusing his son.

Towards the end of the poem, Roethke refers to the father’s hands as being “battered, and caked by dirt.” However, the dirt on his hands is not the dirt one would find outside in the ground. The dirt is a symbol of the abuse he has put on his son, and the trauma he has put on his family. After so many times of using his hands for violence, they will never be “clean” again. Thus the battered hands and the palm caked hard by dirt is not talking about actual dirt, but the sins the father has committed. The poem ends, talking about the father waltzing his son to “bed.” (Roethke 91) At this point in the waltz, the son is beaten, and the father is tired from a combination of the alcohol, and the physical work he has used on his son. He waltzes his son to bed by beating him unconscious. In the previous stanza, Roethke states how the father, “beat time on my head.” (Roethke 91) Roethke uses this line to show a relation between the waltz, and him being beaten to bed. As he beat time on his head, it was only a matter of time before the son was knocked out. The waltz was almost over, and the father was getting tired. He realized it was time to finish what he started and put his son to bed. He loads up for one last punch, and indeed puts his son to sleep. 

Within Theodore Roethke’s “My Papa’s Waltz”, the surrounding text of the word waltz clearly demonstrates that the waltz between him and his father was physically abusive. Roethke uses such calm language in the poem to show that he has adapted to the nights where he waltzes with his father. The negative implications of the word waltz is what puts a constant dark mood on the poem. Roethke was able to put direct meaning on specific words, and this can be accredited to the way in which the surrounding text can relate with each other.  All of these things combined make it clear that this waltz is not a joyous dance between father and son. The unfortunate thing is that for the son, another waltz, is soon to come.

 