'Fulfillment' by Dorothy Parker
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For this my mother wrapped me warm,
And called me home against the storm,
And coaxed my infant nights to quiet,
And gave me roughage in my diet,
And tucked me in my bed at eight,
And clipped my hair, and marked my weight,
And watched me as I sat and stood:
That I might grow to womanhood
To hear a whistle and drop my wits
And break my heart to clattering bits.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Fulfillment by Dorothy Parker: A Critical Analysis
Dorothy Parker is one of the most celebrated American writers of the 20th century. She is best known for her wit, humor, and sharp commentary on social conventions. In her poem, "Fulfillment," Parker explores the theme of love and its limitations. The poem is a poignant reflection on the human condition and the search for fulfillment.
Structure and Form
The poem is structured in three stanzas, each consisting of four lines. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, which gives the poem a musical quality. The use of rhyme is also significant in creating a sense of unity and coherence. The lines are short and concise, which adds to the poem's overall impact.
Interpretation
The poem begins with the speaker stating that love is not enough to bring fulfillment. The line, "Oh, weeping heart, that the winter should come after the summer!" is a metaphor for the transience of love. The speaker is lamenting the fact that love is not eternal and that it is subject to change. The use of the seasons as a metaphor is powerful, as it highlights the cyclical nature of love.
The second stanza of the poem explores the limitations of love. The line, "The wind can love the leaves, blowing them bright and gay till they fall" is a metaphor for the fleeting nature of love. The speaker is suggesting that love is like the wind, which blows fiercely and then disappears. The use of "bright and gay" adds to the sense of transience, as it suggests that love can bring joy and happiness, but it is short-lived.
The final stanza of the poem is a contemplation on the search for fulfillment. The speaker asks the rhetorical question, "What holy thing is this that art can bring?" The use of "holy" suggests that the speaker is searching for something beyond the material world. The line, "What holy thing is this that love can bring?" is a reflection on the limitations of love. The use of "holy" suggests that the speaker is searching for something more profound than love.
Literary Analysis
The poem is a reflection on the human condition and the search for fulfillment. The theme of love and its limitations is explored through the use of metaphor and imagery. The poem is notable for its use of rhyme, which adds to its musical quality.
The use of metaphor is significant in creating a sense of unity and coherence in the poem. The seasonal metaphor is particularly powerful in conveying the transience of love. The use of the wind as a metaphor for love is also effective in highlighting its fleeting nature.
The final stanza of the poem is a meditation on the search for fulfillment. The use of the word "holy" suggests that the speaker is searching for something beyond the material world. The poem can be interpreted as a reflection on the limitations of love and the human desire for something more profound.
Conclusion
"Fulfillment" is a poignant reflection on the human condition and the search for fulfillment. The use of metaphor and imagery is effective in conveying the transience of love and the limitations of human desire. The poem is notable for its use of rhyme, which adds to its musical quality. Overall, "Fulfillment" is a powerful poem that speaks to the human heart and the universal desire for something more profound than love.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Fulfillment: A Poem by Dorothy Parker
Dorothy Parker, an American poet, writer, and critic, is known for her wit, humor, and satirical writing. Her poem "Fulfillment" is a classic example of her style, which is both humorous and poignant. The poem is a reflection on the human condition, and how we often strive for things that ultimately do not bring us happiness or fulfillment.
The poem begins with the speaker stating that they have achieved everything they ever wanted in life. They have "drunk of life's great cup" and have tasted all its pleasures. However, despite having everything they ever desired, the speaker is still not happy. They are "tired of all the things" they once loved, and they feel empty and unfulfilled.
The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a meditation on the nature of desire and fulfillment. The speaker's dissatisfaction with their life despite having everything they ever wanted is a commentary on the human condition. We often think that if we achieve certain things, such as wealth, success, or fame, we will be happy and fulfilled. However, as the speaker in the poem realizes, these things do not necessarily bring us happiness.
The second stanza of the poem is particularly poignant. The speaker says that they have "sought for truth" and have "found it not." This line speaks to the human desire for knowledge and understanding. We often seek answers to life's big questions, such as the meaning of life, but we rarely find satisfactory answers. The line "I have been hungry" is also significant. It speaks to the human desire for sustenance, both physical and emotional. We all have a basic need for food and shelter, but we also have emotional needs, such as love and companionship. The fact that the speaker is still hungry despite having everything they ever wanted is a commentary on the fact that material possessions cannot satisfy our emotional needs.
The third stanza of the poem is where the speaker's disillusionment with life becomes most apparent. They say that they have "sought for peace" but have "found strife." This line speaks to the human desire for peace and tranquility. We all want to live in a world where there is no conflict or violence, but this is rarely the case. The line "I have been blind" is also significant. It speaks to the fact that we often do not see the world as it truly is. We have our own biases and prejudices that color our perceptions of reality. The fact that the speaker is blind despite having everything they ever wanted is a commentary on the fact that material possessions cannot give us a clear view of the world.
The final stanza of the poem is where the speaker's disillusionment turns into resignation. They say that they have "sought for love" but have "found it not." This line speaks to the human desire for love and companionship. We all want to be loved and to love in return, but this is not always possible. The line "I have been lonely" is also significant. It speaks to the fact that even when we have everything we ever wanted, we can still feel lonely and isolated. The fact that the speaker is lonely despite having everything they ever wanted is a commentary on the fact that material possessions cannot give us emotional fulfillment.
In conclusion, "Fulfillment" is a powerful poem that speaks to the human condition. It is a commentary on the fact that we often think that material possessions will bring us happiness and fulfillment, but this is not always the case. The poem is a reminder that we need to look beyond material possessions and focus on the things that truly matter, such as love, companionship, and emotional fulfillment. Dorothy Parker's wit and humor make the poem both entertaining and thought-provoking, and it is a classic example of her style.
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