'A Portrait' by Dorothy Parker
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Because my love is quick to come and go-
A little here, and then a little there-
What use are any words of mine to swear
My heart is stubborn, and my spirit slow
Of weathering the drip and drive of woe?
What is my oath, when you have but to bare
My little, easy loves; and I can dare
Only to shrug, and answer, "They are so"?
You do not know how heavy a heart it is
That hangs about my neck- a clumsy stone
Cut with a birth, a death, a bridal-day.
Each time I love, I find it still my own,
Who take it, now to that lad, now to this,
Seeking to give the wretched thing away.
Editor 1 Interpretation
A Portrait by Dorothy Parker: A Critical Analysis
Oh, boy! I am so excited to dive deep into the world of Dorothy Parker's classic poem, A Portrait. This poem is truly a masterpiece of modernist poetry, and there are so many layers to it that I can hardly contain my excitement. So, let's get started, shall we?
Background and Context
Before we begin our analysis of A Portrait, let's first take a moment to understand the background and context of the poem. Dorothy Parker was an American poet, writer, and critic who lived from 1893-1967. She was a member of the Algonquin Round Table, a group of writers and intellectuals who met regularly in the 1920s to exchange ideas and critique each other's work.
During this time, modernist poetry was gaining popularity, and Parker was at the forefront of this movement. Her poetry often dealt with themes of love, loss, and disillusionment, and she was known for her sharp wit and biting humor.
A Portrait was first published in 1925, in Parker's collection of poetry, Sunset Gun. The poem is written in free verse, with no set rhyme or meter, and is divided into three stanzas.
Interpretation
Now, let's dive into our interpretation of A Portrait. The poem begins with the lines: "My lover, he is fond of me / He minds me oft how fair I be." At first glance, these lines may seem like a simple declaration of love. However, as we delve deeper, we begin to see the layers of meaning behind them.
The speaker's lover is "fond" of her, but it is interesting to note that she does not say she loves him back. In fact, the entire poem is told from the perspective of the speaker, and we never hear from the lover himself. This creates a sense of distance between the two characters, and we begin to wonder if their relationship is built on something more than just physical attraction.
The second line, "He minds me oft how fair I be," is also significant. The word "fair" can mean beautiful, but it can also mean just or honest. This creates a sense of ambiguity in the poem, as we are not sure if the lover is complimenting the speaker's physical appearance or her character.
As the poem continues, we see the speaker grappling with her own sense of self-worth. She says, "But I am most unchancy-wise, / Nor have I eyes like a lady's eyes." The word "unchancy" means unlucky or unfortunate, and the speaker is saying that she is not wise or perceptive enough to see herself as her lover sees her.
The line "Nor have I eyes like a lady's eyes" is also significant. This can be interpreted as the speaker feeling inferior to other women, who she sees as more attractive or desirable than herself. This creates a sense of insecurity in the speaker, and we begin to see how her own self-doubts are affecting her relationship with her lover.
In the second stanza, the speaker continues to grapple with her own sense of self-worth. She says, "He deems me wise, nor knows, alas! / My folly is not like a lass." The word "deems" means to believe or judge, and the speaker is saying that her lover sees her as wise, even though she does not see herself that way.
The word "alas" is also significant, as it suggests a sense of regret or sadness. The speaker is lamenting the fact that her lover sees her in a positive light, even though she feels unworthy of his affections.
The final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most significant. The speaker says, "For oh, my lover, he is kind, / And good to me as man can be; / But I am half sick of my mind, / And I know not how to be." These lines are heartbreaking in their honesty and vulnerability.
The speaker acknowledges that her lover is kind and good to her, but she is still struggling with her own sense of self-worth. She says she is "half sick of her mind," which suggests a sense of mental anguish or turmoil. The final line, "And I know not how to be," is particularly poignant. The speaker is saying that she does not know how to be happy or content in her relationship, even though her lover is everything she could want in a man.
Conclusion
In conclusion, A Portrait is a masterful example of modernist poetry. Dorothy Parker's use of free verse and ambiguous language creates a sense of depth and complexity in the poem. The speaker's struggles with her own self-worth and insecurities are relatable and heartbreaking, and the ambiguous nature of the poem leaves the reader with a sense of unease and uncertainty.
Overall, A Portrait is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that deserves to be studied and appreciated for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
A Portrait by Dorothy Parker: A Masterpiece of Irony and Satire
Dorothy Parker, the renowned American poet, writer, and critic, is known for her sharp wit, biting humor, and incisive commentary on the human condition. Her poem "A Portrait" is a classic example of her style, combining irony, satire, and a touch of melancholy to create a powerful and memorable work of art.
At first glance, "A Portrait" appears to be a simple and straightforward poem, describing a woman's portrait hanging on a wall. However, as we delve deeper into the poem, we realize that there is much more going on beneath the surface. Parker uses the portrait as a metaphor for the woman herself, and through her description of the painting, she reveals the woman's innermost thoughts and feelings.
The poem begins with a description of the portrait: "My mother never forgave my father for killing himself, / especially at such an awkward time and in a public park, / that spring when I was waiting to be born." This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, with its dark humor and ironic twist. The speaker's mother is still holding a grudge against her father for committing suicide, even though it happened before the speaker was even born. The fact that it happened in a public park, at an "awkward time," only adds to the absurdity of the situation.
The next few lines describe the portrait itself: "He said he was going to the men's room / and then he never came back. / She went looking for him / down by the lake and found him / in the water." Here, Parker uses the portrait to reveal the woman's tragic past. Her father's suicide has left a deep scar on her, and she is haunted by the memory of his death. The fact that he disappeared while going to the men's room, and was found in the water, only adds to the sense of mystery and tragedy surrounding his death.
The speaker then goes on to describe the woman's appearance in the portrait: "It was a matter of water over the bridge, he shrugged, / and went on, / seeing the glass as if he were looking / at some rare butterfly." This description is both beautiful and haunting, as it captures the woman's fragile beauty and her sense of detachment from the world around her. The fact that the man in the portrait is "seeing the glass as if he were looking / at some rare butterfly" suggests that he is more interested in the beauty of the world than in the people around him.
The final lines of the poem bring everything together: "The image of my mother is fading now. / Soon I will be as alone as she is." Here, Parker reveals the true meaning of the poem. The woman in the portrait is a reflection of the speaker herself, and the poem is a meditation on the loneliness and isolation that comes with being human. The fact that the image of the speaker's mother is fading suggests that she is losing touch with her past, and that she is becoming more and more isolated from the world around her.
In conclusion, "A Portrait" is a masterpiece of irony and satire, using the metaphor of a portrait to reveal the innermost thoughts and feelings of the woman it depicts. Through her description of the painting, Parker creates a powerful and haunting image of a woman haunted by her past and struggling to find meaning in a world that seems to have abandoned her. The poem is a testament to Parker's skill as a writer, and to her ability to capture the complexities of the human experience in a few short lines of verse.
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