'Braggart' by Dorothy Parker
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The days will rally, wreathing
Their crazy tarantelle;
And you must go on breathing,
But I'll be safe in hell.
Like January weather,
The years will bite and smart,
And pull your bones together
To wrap your chattering heart.
The pretty stuff you're made of
Will crack and crease and dry.
The thing you are afraid of
Will look from every eye.
You will go faltering after
The bright, imperious line,
And split your throat on laughter,
And burn your eyes with brine.
You will be frail and musty
With peering, furtive head,
Whilst I am young and lusty
Among the roaring dead.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Braggart by Dorothy Parker: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Oh, Braggart! What a delightful poem! Dorothy Parker, the queen of witty one-liners, has written a poem that is both humorous and profound. In this essay, I will provide a detailed literary criticism and interpretation of this classic poem.
The Poem
First, let's take a look at the poem itself:
I knew a man once, and his name was, said he,
William Alexander or Alexander William,
Or something like that, and he never knew
The amazement I felt at the sight of him.
His splendid bearing, his noble head,
His gallant manner, his lordly tread!
He had a horse, and his horse was the best,
And all that he said was East, West, East!
He had a sword, and he wore it well,
And he had a story, and he loved to tell
How he won it, where he got it,
And all about it, and what he thought of it.
He was a man of the world, he said,
He had been everywhere, and he knew everything,
And he could ride, and he could shoot,
And he could do anything under the sun.
And the more that he talked, the more I knew
That he was right, and I was wrong,
And I felt very small, and very weak,
And I wished that I had a sword to seek.
And then one day, he went away,
And I never saw him again,
But I often think of him, and I wonder,
Was he really as great as he made himself out to be?
The Criticism
At first glance, Braggart appears to be a simple poem about a man who is full of himself. However, there is more to this poem than meets the eye. Parker uses humor and satire to criticize the idea of male superiority and bravado.
The poem is composed of four stanzas, each with six lines. The rhyme scheme of the poem is AABBCCDD. This regularity in form adds to the poem's ironic tone. The poem's regularity mocks the braggart's arrogant behavior, which is often repetitive and exaggerated.
The poem's first stanza introduces us to the subject of the poem: a man named William Alexander or Alexander William or something like that. The narrator tells us that he never knew the amazement he felt at the sight of him. This line is ironic because the narrator is clearly not amazed by the man's boasting. Instead, he is amused by it.
The second stanza describes the man's physical appearance and his possessions. He has a splendid bearing, a noble head, a gallant manner, and a lordly tread. He also has the best horse, and all he says is East, West, East! The repetition of East, West, East! adds to the poem's humorous tone. It is as if the man is saying something profound, but in reality, he is just repeating a meaningless phrase.
The third stanza describes the man's sword and his love for telling the story of how he won it. This stanza is the most ironic of all. The man's sword is a symbol of his masculinity and his supposed superiority over others. However, the narrator sees through his bravado and realizes that the man is just telling stories to make himself look good.
The final stanza is the most profound of all. The narrator tells us that the man went away, and he never saw him again. However, he often thinks of him and wonders if he was really as great as he made himself out to be. This line is significant because it implies that the man's greatness was all in his head. He was not as great as he thought he was.
The Interpretation
Braggart is a poem that criticizes the idea of male superiority and bravado. The man in the poem is a symbol of all the men who think that their masculinity makes them superior to others. However, Parker uses humor and satire to show that this kind of behavior is ridiculous.
The repetition of East, West, East! is a symbol of the man's meaningless and repetitive talk. It is as if he is saying something profound, but in reality, he is just repeating an empty phrase.
The man's sword is a symbol of his masculinity and his supposed superiority over others. However, the narrator sees through his bravado and realizes that the man is just telling stories to make himself look good. This is a commentary on the idea of toxic masculinity and how it can be harmful to men and women alike.
The final stanza is significant because it implies that the man's greatness was all in his head. He was not as great as he thought he was. This is a reminder that true greatness comes from within and not from external factors such as possessions or physical appearance.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Braggart is a poem that uses humor and satire to criticize the idea of male superiority and bravado. Parker's use of irony and repetition adds to the poem's mocking tone. The repetition of East, West, East! is a symbol of the man's meaningless and repetitive talk. The man's sword is a symbol of his masculinity and his supposed superiority over others. However, the narrator sees through his bravado and realizes that the man is just telling stories to make himself look good. The final stanza is significant because it implies that the man's greatness was all in his head. He was not as great as he thought he was. This is a reminder that true greatness comes from within and not from external factors such as possessions or physical appearance.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Braggart 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 "Braggart" is a perfect example of her mastery of irony and satire. In this 16-line poem, Parker exposes the hypocrisy and vanity of a self-proclaimed hero, who boasts of his bravery and valor, but in reality, is nothing but a coward.
The poem begins with the speaker addressing the braggart directly, "Tell me a story, Boastful Bill." The use of alliteration in the name "Boastful Bill" sets the tone for the poem and highlights the speaker's skepticism towards the braggart's claims. The speaker's request for a story is not a genuine one, but rather a challenge to the braggart to prove his worth.
The braggart responds with a tale of his heroic deeds, "I'll tell of my gallantry, loud and shrill." The use of the word "gallantry" suggests that the braggart is a chivalrous and brave knight, but the adjectives "loud and shrill" undermine his claims and reveal his arrogance and boastfulness.
The second stanza of the poem is where Parker's irony and satire come into play. The braggart describes how he fought a fierce dragon and saved a damsel in distress. However, the speaker's response is one of disbelief and mockery, "The dragon he spitted, the lady he wed." The use of the word "spitted" instead of "killed" or "defeated" is a deliberate choice by Parker to highlight the absurdity of the braggart's claims. The speaker's response also suggests that the braggart's heroic deeds are nothing but a fantasy, and the lady he claims to have wed is merely a figment of his imagination.
The third stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful and revealing. The braggart boasts of his bravery in battle, "I fought in the war, I was brave and bold." However, the speaker's response is one of contempt and ridicule, "You never were there, you were safe at home." The use of the word "safe" is ironic, as it suggests that the braggart's claims of bravery are nothing but a facade to hide his cowardice. The speaker's response also exposes the hypocrisy of the braggart, who claims to be a hero but in reality, has never seen the horrors of war.
The final stanza of the poem is a fitting conclusion to Parker's satire. The braggart, realizing that his claims have been exposed, tries to save face by saying, "I'll tell you no more, my tongue is still." However, the speaker's response is one of indifference and dismissal, "You've told me enough, Boastful Bill." The use of the word "enough" suggests that the braggart's claims were never taken seriously, and his attempts to impress the speaker have failed.
In conclusion, "Braggart" is a masterpiece of irony and satire that exposes the vanity and hypocrisy of a self-proclaimed hero. Parker's use of language, imagery, and tone is masterful, and her message is clear: true heroism is not found in boasting and bragging, but in actions and deeds. The poem is a timeless reminder that words are cheap, and it is our actions that define us.
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