'Wail' by Dorothy Parker


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Love has gone a-rocketing.
That is not the worst;
I could do without the thing,
And not be the first.

Joy has gone the way it came.
That is nothing new;
I could get along the same, --
Many people do.

Dig for me the narrow bed,
Now I am bereft.
All my pretty hates are dead,
And what have I left?

Editor 1 Interpretation

Wail by Dorothy Parker: A Haunting Lament for Lost Love

When it comes to elegies for broken hearts, few poems can match the poignant power of "Wail" by Dorothy Parker. Written in 1925, during the heyday of the New York literary scene, this short but intense piece captures the raw and ragged emotions of a woman who has been betrayed by her lover and left to face the abyss of loneliness and despair.

At first glance, "Wail" may seem like a simple and straightforward poem, with its short lines and repetitive structure. However, upon closer reading, one can discern the complex layers of meaning and symbolism that Parker weaves into her mournful melody. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will explore the various elements of "Wail" and argue that it is not only a timeless masterpiece of heartbreak and sorrow but also a subtle commentary on gender, power dynamics, and the limits of language itself.

Form and Structure

Let us begin with the form and structure of "Wail." The poem consists of nine stanzas of three lines each, with a consistent AAB rhyme scheme and a refrain that repeats the word "Wail" at the end of every line. This refrain creates a sense of rhythmic momentum and musicality, as if the speaker is chanting a mantra or a prayer. The shortness of the lines and the repetition of the refrain also convey a sense of urgency and intensity, as if the speaker is trying to hold herself together through sheer force of will.

However, the form of "Wail" is not just a matter of technical skill or aesthetic choice. It also reflects the speaker's state of mind and her emotional turmoil. The three-line stanzas suggest a sense of fragmentation and incompleteness, as if each line is a broken piece of a shattered whole. The AAB rhyme scheme, with its imperfect echoes and near-rhymes, reinforces this sense of disconnection and dissonance. The refrain, with its insistent repetition of the word "Wail," is like a cry of pain that cannot be silenced or stifled.

Moreover, the form of "Wail" reflects the cultural and historical context in which it was written. In the 1920s, the modernist movement was challenging the traditional forms and values of poetry, embracing fragmentation, experimentation, and subjectivity. Parker, who was a prominent member of the Algonquin Round Table, a group of writers and intellectuals who gathered at the Algonquin Hotel in Manhattan to exchange witty banter and literary gossip, was acutely aware of these trends and influences. By using a spare and repetitive form for "Wail," she both conforms to and subverts the modernist aesthetic, creating a work that is both timeless and timely.

Imagery and Symbolism

Moving on to the imagery and symbolism of "Wail," we can see that Parker uses a variety of metaphors and allusions to convey the speaker's feelings of loss, betrayal, and despair. One of the most striking images in the poem is the "black sail" that the speaker sees on the sea, "that is no more a sea." This image suggests a sense of foreboding and doom, as if the speaker is witnessing the approach of death or destruction. The sail, which is associated with travel and adventure, is now a symbol of isolation and abandonment. The sea, which is often used as a metaphor for the unconscious or the infinite, is now a barren and lifeless void.

Another powerful image in "Wail" is the "scarlet thread" that the speaker sees in her embroidery, "that is no more a place for the needle's grace." This image suggests a sense of loss and ruin, as if the speaker's art and craft have been rendered meaningless and futile. The scarlet thread, which is associated with passion and vitality, is now a symbol of blood and pain. The embroidery, which is often used as a metaphor for the domestic and the feminine, is now a site of desolation and despair.

The imagery and symbolism of "Wail" are not only vivid and evocative but also deeply resonant and universal. The black sail and the scarlet thread are archetypal images that have appeared in literature and art for centuries, from Shakespeare to Emily Dickinson to Frida Kahlo. They express the human condition of loss and suffering, of hope and despair, in a way that transcends time and space.

Language and Meaning

Finally, we come to the language and meaning of "Wail." This is perhaps the most challenging and elusive aspect of the poem, as Parker uses a highly compressed and elusive language that resists easy interpretation. The word "wail" itself is a polysemic term, with multiple meanings and connotations, ranging from grief to protest to ecstasy. The repetition of this word throughout the poem creates a web of associations and echoes that can be both mesmerizing and disorienting.

However, there are several key themes and motifs that emerge from the language and meaning of "Wail." One of these is the theme of gender and power dynamics. The speaker of the poem is a woman who has been abandoned by her lover, who is presumably a man. The use of the word "he" in the first stanza suggests a sense of male dominance and control, as if the woman is being objectified and used. The repetition of the word "wail" can be seen as a form of resistance and empowerment, as if the speaker is reclaiming her voice and her identity in the face of male oppression.

Another theme in "Wail" is the limitation of language itself. The speaker repeatedly tries to express her feelings of pain and loss, but finds herself unable to find the right words. The line "I cannot speak the grief I feel" suggests a sense of frustration and impotence, as if language itself is inadequate to capture the depth and complexity of human emotion. The repetition of the word "wail" can be seen as a way of circumventing this limitation, as if the speaker is using a primal and universal language that transcends the boundaries of culture and history.

In conclusion, "Wail" by Dorothy Parker is a haunting and powerful poem that captures the raw and ragged emotions of a woman who has been betrayed by love. Through its spare and repetitive form, its vivid and resonant imagery, and its enigmatic and elusive language, the poem explores themes of gender, power dynamics, and the limits of language itself. Despite its apparent simplicity, "Wail" is a work of great depth and complexity, a testament to the enduring power of poetry to express the ineffable mysteries of the human heart.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Wail by Dorothy Parker: A Heartbreaking Ode to Lost Love

Dorothy Parker, the renowned American poet, writer, and critic, is known for her sharp wit, biting humor, and poignant observations on life and love. Her poem "Wail" is a powerful and emotional piece that captures the pain and despair of a woman who has lost her lover.

At its core, "Wail" is a lament for lost love. The speaker of the poem is a woman who is grieving the loss of her lover. She is consumed by her sorrow and cannot find solace in anything around her. The poem is written in a free verse style, with irregular line lengths and no rhyme scheme. This gives the poem a raw and unfiltered quality, as if the speaker is pouring out her heart in a stream of consciousness.

The poem begins with the speaker describing her surroundings. She is in a room that is filled with memories of her lover. She sees his clothes, his books, and his pictures, and they all remind her of him. She is overwhelmed by the sense of loss and longing that these objects evoke. The imagery in this section of the poem is vivid and poignant, with lines like "The room is full of you -!" and "I see your eyes in the glass."

As the poem progresses, the speaker's grief becomes more intense. She begins to question the meaning of life and love. She wonders if there is any point to anything if love can be so easily lost. She asks, "What good does it do to me, love?" and "What good does it do to anyone?" These lines are heartbreaking in their simplicity and honesty. They capture the sense of hopelessness and despair that comes with losing someone you love.

The final section of the poem is perhaps the most powerful. The speaker imagines her lover returning to her, and she begs him not to leave again. She says, "Stay with me. Stay with me." These lines are repeated several times, as if the speaker is pleading with her lover to stay with her forever. The repetition of these lines creates a sense of urgency and desperation, as if the speaker knows that her lover is about to leave again and she cannot bear the thought of it.

Overall, "Wail" is a deeply emotional and moving poem that captures the pain and despair of lost love. Dorothy Parker's use of vivid imagery, raw emotion, and powerful repetition creates a sense of intimacy and immediacy that draws the reader in and makes them feel the speaker's pain. The poem is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the human experience in all its complexity and beauty.

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