"Those Winter Sundays" by Robert Hayden is a short poem about a son who describes his not desirable living conditions. The author makes a number of statements that reveals to the readers the poor circumstances of him and his family. Throughout this short poem, the author portrays the idea of his family being destitute, the ascetic characteristic of his father and the general contempt that his father is shown in the midst of his hard work in order to provide the basic necessities of life for him and his household.
In this short poem Hayden uses graphic imagery to suggest the dedicated nature of his father. As stated by the author "Sundays too my father got up early" (Hayden 1) the authors diction illustrates the idea that his father never took a day off of work, and that idea is reinforced in the statement "then with cracked hands that ached from the labor in the weekday weather made" (Hayden 3-4) where the author describes the toll that the harsh weather combined with intense labor throughout the week has taken on the physical condition of his father.
The dedication and the work ethic of his father is commendable, as we notice that he works everyday of the week to keep his family warm. He seems to be illustrated as having a strong sense of responsibility from the lines previously quoted as well as "I'd wake and hear the cold splintering, breaking." (Hayden 6). By time the author awakens, the father is already hard at work getting the wood split and the fire "blazing" in order to drive out the cold. The author seems to be making his dad out to be a hero when he stated "him, who had driven out the cold, and polished my shoes as well." (Hayden 10-12). In "Those winter Sundays" Robert Hayden emphasizes these mentioned idea, and makes him out to be an appreciated father, but combines the idea of indifference towards him.
It is questionable as to why is it that the father is shown such indifference. Why is it that the father isn't shown appreciation, when the author plainly states that his father would rise early, even on Sunday (Hayden 1) even to the point of physical deterioration (Hayden 3-4). The author seems to be commending and appreciating the labors his father participates in, and seems to build the character of his father portraying him as a hero in stating "he who had driven our the cold" (Hayden 11). This suggests that he was grateful for the results of his fathers efforts since he no longer has to arise in a cold house (Hayden 7-8) while he simultaneously showing disregard and manifesting no gratitude whatsoever, proven in statements such as "No one ever thanked him" (Hayden 5) as well as "Speaking to him indifferently" (Hayden 10). Could this lukewarm and bittersweet perception of his father be related to the statement "fearing the chronic angers of that house?" (Hayden 9). The authors diction used would suggest just that when you notice Hayden using the phrase "that house" as opposed to "home" or "our home" or "the family house." The diction used gives no personal touch to such a personal topic such as the family home.
Such statements could suggest that the author is not content in his current living circumstances and that perhaps he has a state of bitterness that he feels lonely in his own house hold. Hayden stated "What did I know, what did I know of loves austere and lonely offices?" (Hayden 13-14) which gives the readers the idea of a tragic family life, suggesting he doesn't have a "close knit" family like he would like to have. This statement leaves the impression that he and his family live a day to day ritualistic lifestyle. The kind of lifestyle where genuine compassion, love and gratitude are out of site.
In "Those winter Sundays" Robert Hayden paints a mental image of a bitterly cold Sunday morning in the cold of winter in which his father, who genuinely cares for his family and holds his own interest second, is shown contempt, with the idea of appreciation for all that his father did for them on those bitterly cold winter Sundays. The author leads his readers to understand that your work can be appreciated and yet, not shown, almost giving the sense of regret that he did not show more appreciation for his father which makes "Those Winter Sundays" a poem that is full of insight and self evaluation.
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