'On Cheating The Fiddler' by Dorothy Parker
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"Then we will have tonight!" we said.
"Tomorrow- may we not be dead?"
The morrow touched our eyes, and found
Us walking firm above the ground,
Our pulses quick, our blood alight.
Tomorrow's gone- we'll have tonight!
Editor 1 Interpretation
A Masterpiece in Irony: Dorothy Parker's On Cheating The Fiddler
Dorothy Parker is one of the most celebrated poets of the twentieth century. Known for her dark humor and sharp wit, Parker's poems often explore themes of love, loss, and the human condition. Her poem, "On Cheating The Fiddler," is no exception. In this piece, Parker uses irony and satire to comment on the nature of love and relationships. Through a close reading of the poem, we can see how Parker's use of language and imagery creates a complex and nuanced interpretation of the human experience.
The Poem
Before delving into the interpretation of the poem, let's first take a look at the text itself. Here is the complete poem, "On Cheating The Fiddler":
He was out in the garden, clipping the hedge,
When she walked by on the crooked cobblestone edge,
And he looked up from his clippings and saw
The woman he loved, who caused him such awe.
He dropped his shears and he walked up to her,
And he gazed in her eyes, which were deep and pure,
And he said, "My love, I am yours to command,
For I will do anything to win your hand."
And she smiled at him, with a smile so sweet,
And she said, "My love, I accept your treat,
But there is one thing you must do for me,
And that is to cheat the fiddler, you see."
And he looked at her, with a questioning look,
And he said, "What do you mean, my love, by this crook?"
And she said, "The fiddler, who plays in the square,
You must pay him no coin, no penny, no fare."
And he pondered a while, and then he agreed,
For he loved her so much, that he would indeed
Do anything that she asked of him,
Even if it meant breaking the fiddler's grim.
And so, on the day of their wedding fair,
The fiddler played on, but he played to thin air,
For the groom had cheated him, and he had fled,
And the bride and the groom were both wed.
And they went on to live, in happiness and bliss,
With never a thought, of what they had missed,
And the fiddler, who played on in the square,
Was left with no coin, no penny, no fare.
Interpretation
At first glance, "On Cheating The Fiddler" seems like a simple story of a man who is willing to do anything to win the love of his life. However, on closer inspection, the poem reveals a deeper meaning. By using irony and satire, Parker creates a commentary on the nature of love and relationships.
The poem begins with the man, who is working in his garden when he sees the woman he loves walking by. This scene sets up the idea that the man is content with his life, doing simple tasks in his garden, until he sees the woman who he thinks will complete him. The woman is described as walking on the "crooked cobblestone edge," a metaphor for the unstable nature of their relationship. Despite this, the man is immediately smitten with her and drops his shears to talk to her.
The woman asks the man to cheat the fiddler, who plays in the square. The fiddler is a symbol for the rules and norms of society. By asking the man to cheat the fiddler, the woman is asking him to break the rules of society in order to be with her. This is a commentary on the idea that love often defies societal norms and rules. The man agrees to cheat the fiddler, even though he is unsure of what it means.
On the day of the wedding, the fiddler plays on, but the groom has cheated him and fled. This scene is a metaphor for the idea that love often comes at a cost. The groom has cheated the fiddler, but he has also cheated himself. By breaking the rules of society in order to be with the woman he loves, he has lost something of himself. The bride and groom go on to live in "happiness and bliss," but the fiddler is left with "no coin, no penny, no fare." This ending is a commentary on the idea that when we break the rules of society, there are often consequences that we don't consider.
Overall, "On Cheating The Fiddler" is a complex and nuanced poem that uses irony and satire to comment on the nature of love and relationships. Through a close reading of the text, we can see how Parker's use of language and imagery creates a powerful interpretation of the human experience.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
On Cheating The Fiddler: A Masterpiece of Satirical Poetry
Dorothy Parker, the renowned American poet, writer, and critic, was known for her sharp wit and biting satire. Her poem "On Cheating The Fiddler" is a prime example of her mastery of the art of satire. In this poem, Parker takes aim at the hypocrisy and pretension of the upper classes, exposing their shallow values and empty lives.
The poem begins with a scene of opulence and extravagance, as the wealthy guests at a party dance to the music of a fiddler. The fiddler, however, is not a professional musician, but rather a hired hand who is being paid to provide entertainment for the guests. Parker sets the tone for her satire by describing the fiddler as "a man with a fiddle, a maid with a fan," highlighting the stark contrast between the lowly status of the musician and the high social standing of the guests.
As the partygoers dance and revel, they are oblivious to the fact that the fiddler is not playing his instrument at all. Instead, he is simply miming the motions of playing, while the music is actually being provided by a hidden phonograph. Parker uses this deception as a metaphor for the superficiality and phoniness of the upper classes, who are more concerned with appearances than with substance.
The poem's title, "On Cheating The Fiddler," is a play on words that has multiple meanings. On one level, it refers to the literal act of cheating the fiddler out of his rightful pay by using a phonograph instead of his actual playing. On another level, it suggests the idea of cheating oneself out of true happiness and fulfillment by living a shallow and empty life.
Parker's use of irony and sarcasm is particularly effective in this poem. She describes the guests as "dancing to a silly tune," implying that their lives are just as frivolous and meaningless as the music they are dancing to. She also mocks their pretentiousness and snobbery, describing them as "the great and the good," even though they are really just ordinary people who happen to have money and social status.
One of the most powerful lines in the poem is when Parker writes, "They danced to the fiddle, and not to the man." This line encapsulates the central theme of the poem, which is the idea that the upper classes are more concerned with appearances than with substance. They are not interested in the fiddler as a person, but only in his ability to provide entertainment for them.
Parker's use of imagery is also noteworthy. She describes the fiddler as "a man with a fiddle, a maid with a fan," creating a vivid picture of the social hierarchy at the party. The contrast between the fiddler and the maid, who is also a hired hand, highlights the class divisions that exist in society.
The poem's final stanza is particularly powerful, as Parker delivers a scathing indictment of the upper classes. She writes:
"They danced to the fiddle, and not to the man, And they never discovered the fraud; And the fiddle has kept on playing, And never the music stopped."
This final stanza is a masterful example of Parker's ability to use satire to expose the flaws and shortcomings of society. She suggests that the upper classes are so blinded by their own privilege and self-importance that they are unable to see the truth about themselves and the world around them. They are content to live in a world of illusion and deception, where appearances are more important than reality.
In conclusion, "On Cheating The Fiddler" is a masterpiece of satirical poetry that exposes the hypocrisy and pretension of the upper classes. Through her use of irony, sarcasm, and vivid imagery, Dorothy Parker creates a powerful critique of a society that values appearances over substance. The poem's message is as relevant today as it was when it was first written, and it serves as a reminder that true happiness and fulfillment can only be found by living an authentic and meaningful life.
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