'Ballade Of Unfortunate Mammals' by Dorothy Parker
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Death and Taxes1931Love is sharper than stones or sticks;Lone as the sea, and deeper blue;
Loud in the night as a clock that ticks;Longer-lived than the Wandering Jew.
Show me a love was done and through,Tell me a kiss escaped its debt!
Son, to your death you'll pay your due-Women and elephants never forget.Ever a man, alas, would mix,Ever a man, heigh-ho, must woo;
So he's left in the world-old fix,Thus is furthered the sale of rue.
Son, your chances are thin and few-Won't you ponder, before you're set?
Shoot if you must, but hold in viewWomen and elephants never forget.Down from Caesar past Joynson-HicksEchoes the warning, ever new:
Though they're trained to amusing tricks,Gentler, they, than the pigeon's coo,
Careful, son, of the curs'ed two-Either one is a dangerous pet;
Natural history proves it true-Women and elephants never forget.L'ENVOIPrince, a precept I'd leave for you,Coined in Eden, existing yet:
Skirt the parlor, and shun the zoo-Women and elephants never forget.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Ballade of Unfortunate Mammals by Dorothy Parker: A Profound and Witty Critique of Society
If you're looking for a poem that combines humor, wit, and a profound commentary on society, look no further than "The Ballade of Unfortunate Mammals" by Dorothy Parker. This masterwork of poetry is a tour de force that reveals Parker's keen insight into the human condition and her ability to use language to devastating effect.
The Ballade Form
The structure of this poem is a ballade, a form of poetry that originated in France in the 14th century. Ballades typically consist of three stanzas of eight or ten lines, with a fourth stanza of six lines called the envoi. Parker's poem is no exception, adhering closely to the traditional structure of the ballade.
But what sets Parker's ballade apart is her use of the form to convey her biting satire. The poem's rhyming scheme adds to its ironic and sardonic tone, with each stanza rhyming ABABBCBC, and the envoi rhyming BCBCCA.
An Overview of the Poem
Let's take a closer look at the poem itself. At first glance, the title seems to suggest a whimsical, lighthearted poem about animals. But as we read on, it becomes clear that Parker has much more in mind than a simple animal fable.
The poem begins by describing how animals are "born too tender and born too wild" and "live and die in a world that's not their own." Already, we can sense Parker's critique of the way society treats those who are different or vulnerable.
The second stanza describes how "we who strut and swagger" are quick to judge and condemn those animals who do not conform to our expectations. We are "masters of their lot" and "we take our fill of sport." Parker's use of the word "sport" highlights the cruelty inherent in our treatment of those who are weaker than us.
The third stanza takes a darker turn, describing how we "hunt them down with dogs and guns" and "watch them starve and parch." The language here is stark and unforgiving, drawing attention to the brutal reality of how society treats those who are different.
But just when we think the poem can't get any more bleak, Parker delivers a biting punchline in the envoi. She turns the tables on us, saying that "if we are wise," we will realize that "we are not so very far / from those poor things we pity." In other words, Parker is suggesting that we are just as vulnerable and fragile as the animals we mistreat.
The Power of Irony
One of the most striking aspects of Parker's poem is her use of irony. The poem's seemingly whimsical title is just the first example of how Parker uses irony to highlight the darker aspects of society. By comparing us to "unfortunate mammals," Parker is calling attention to the fact that we are just as much at the mercy of the world as any animal.
But perhaps the greatest example of irony in the poem is the way Parker turns the tables on us in the envoi. Throughout the poem, she describes how we mistreat animals and think nothing of it. But in the envoi, she suggests that we are just as vulnerable and in need of compassion as those animals we so easily dismiss.
Satire as Social Critique
Parker's use of satire throughout the poem is also worth noting. Satire is a form of social critique that uses humor, irony, and exaggeration to expose and criticize societal vices and shortcomings.
In "The Ballade of Unfortunate Mammals," Parker uses satire to critique the way society treats those who are different or vulnerable. By comparing us to animals, she is calling attention to the ways in which we dehumanize and mistreat others who are not like us.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "The Ballade of Unfortunate Mammals" is a masterful work of poetry that combines humor, wit, and social critique to devastating effect. Through her use of the ballade form, irony, and satire, Parker exposes the darker aspects of society and calls attention to the ways in which we mistreat those who are different or vulnerable.
But perhaps the greatest lesson of the poem is its reminder that we are not so different from the animals we mistreat. We are all vulnerable and in need of compassion, and it is only by recognizing this fact that we can begin to create a more just and humane society.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Ballade of Unfortunate Mammals: A Masterpiece of Satirical Poetry
Dorothy Parker, the renowned American writer, poet, and critic, is known for her sharp wit, biting humor, and incisive commentary on the human condition. Her poem, "The Ballade of Unfortunate Mammals," is a prime example of her satirical genius, as she skewers the pretensions and follies of human society through the lens of animal behavior. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and language of this classic poem, and examine its enduring relevance to our modern world.
The poem begins with a sardonic tone, as Parker sets the scene for her animal allegory:
They tell me that euphoria is the feeling of feeling wonderful,
well, today I feel euphorian,
Today I have the agility of a Greek god and the appetite of a
Victorian.
Yes, today I may even go forth without my galoshes,
Today I am a swashbuckler, would anybody like me to buckle
any swashes?
This is my euphorian day,
I will ring welkins and before anybody answers I will run away.
The speaker, who is presumably Parker herself, mocks the idea of euphoria as a fleeting and illusory state of mind. She then adopts the persona of an animal, boasting of her physical prowess and appetite. The reference to a "Victorian" appetite is particularly ironic, as the Victorian era was known for its strict moral codes and repression of bodily desires. The speaker's bravado is further emphasized by her offer to "buckle any swashes," a phrase that suggests a willingness to engage in daring feats of heroism.
The second stanza introduces the central metaphor of the poem, as Parker compares human behavior to that of animals:
I will charm snakes with my flutelike voice,
I will play the lionlike a fiddle.
I will conduct wild experiments, I will write mighty volumes,
I will be happy, I will be famous, and I will be happy.
I will be understood in all languages, and on the last day
when the world ends, I will crawl into the pages,
I wrote, and die laughing.
The speaker's grandiose ambitions are juxtaposed with the absurdity of her animal imagery. The idea of charming snakes with a "flutelike voice" is reminiscent of the Pied Piper of Hamelin, a figure who lured rats and children with his music. The image of playing the lion like a fiddle is similarly comical, as it suggests a mastery over a wild and dangerous creature. The speaker's desire for fame and recognition is also undercut by the irony of her claim to be "happy" twice in the same line. The final image of crawling into the pages of her own writing and dying laughing is both macabre and humorous, as it suggests a kind of self-referential absurdity.
The third stanza continues the animal metaphor, as Parker describes the various species that populate her imaginary world:
And when I get really hungry,
I will throw oranges at the monkeys,
I will not eat the bananas, because I do not want to
be like them.
There is just one thing I am afraid of: squirrels.
They are so little and so merry, I am afraid they will
get into my soul and take away my sadness.
That is why I forbid them to be seen.
Anywhere near me.
The speaker's desire for dominance over the animal kingdom is tempered by her fear of squirrels, which she describes as "little and merry." This fear is both humorous and poignant, as it suggests a vulnerability and sensitivity that is at odds with the speaker's earlier bravado. The reference to sadness also adds a note of melancholy to the poem, as it suggests that the speaker's euphoria may be a temporary escape from deeper emotional pain.
The final stanza brings the poem full circle, as Parker returns to the theme of euphoria and its fleeting nature:
The End
This poem is for my love, because he has the most
astonishing collection of animal verse in the world and
because I love him.
Euphoria, by the way, is not a conventional
circus clown,
but a condition characterized by
spontaneous bursts of euphoria,
frequently accompanied by
uncontrollable giggling,
smiling and talking to one's self.
It is a rare and wonderful affliction.
As for me: I walk around the city,
strutting my stuff,
my stuff being my
resemblance to the female equivalent of a
young John Barrymore.
The artistic temperament is a disease that affects
amateurs as well as professionals.
It is a disease which arises from men not having
sufficient power of expression to utter and get rid of
the element of art in their being.
It is a question of
dying of thirst
or of drinking a poison
that will kill you later on.
The final stanza is both a tribute to the speaker's love and a reflection on the nature of artistic inspiration. The reference to animal verse is a nod to the poem's animal allegory, while the description of euphoria as a "rare and wonderful affliction" suggests a kind of wistful longing for a state of mind that is beyond the speaker's reach. The reference to John Barrymore, a famous actor known for his charisma and charm, adds a note of glamour and sophistication to the poem, while the final lines suggest a kind of existential dilemma faced by all artists: the choice between the risk of failure and the safety of mediocrity.
In terms of structure, "The Ballade of Unfortunate Mammals" follows the traditional ballade form, with three stanzas of eight lines each and a final quatrain. The rhyme scheme is ABABBCBC, with the B and C lines repeated in each stanza. This form gives the poem a sense of musicality and rhythm, while also emphasizing the repetition and variation of the animal imagery.
In terms of language, Parker's use of irony, satire, and humor is masterful. The juxtaposition of grandiose ambitions with animal behavior creates a sense of absurdity and playfulness, while the speaker's vulnerability and fear add a note of pathos and depth. The use of euphemisms and understatement, such as "throwing oranges at monkeys" instead of attacking them directly, also adds to the poem's satirical tone.
In conclusion, "The Ballade of Unfortunate Mammals" is a masterpiece of satirical poetry that combines humor, irony, and animal imagery to comment on the human condition. Parker's use of the ballade form and repetition adds to the poem's musicality and rhythm, while her language and imagery create a sense of absurdity and pathos. The poem's enduring relevance lies in its critique of human pretensions and follies, and its celebration of the rare and wonderful affliction of artistic inspiration.
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