preview

Those Winter Sundays Essay

Decent Essays

“What did I know, what did I know, of love’s austere and lonely offices?” This is the heartbreaking moment of recognition when the speaker in “Those Winter Sundays” finally regrets his disregard for his father’s love as a child. In “Those Winter Sundays” by Robert Hayden and “Fish Cheeks” by Amy Tan, the authors illustrate the common message that many children are ungrateful for the unconditional care and support they receive from their parents. Both texts highlight the idea that a parent figure’s job is not simple; their hard work and effort is often dismissed and taken for granted. For instance, Robert Hayden reflects on growing up ignoring his father’s care; Amy Tan describes her adolescence and the unappreciation she had for the lessons her mother taught her. Their stories vividly illustrate that a good parent will care for their child …show more content…

"Those Winter Sundays” is a powerful poem that grasps a personal story about a father-child relationship. In the poem, the speaker remorsefully reflects on his apathy toward his father as a child. He says: “What did I know, what did I know, / of love’s austere and lonely offices?” (Hayden 4). In this quote, the word “office” means an assigned or assumed duty. Hayden chooses this particular word to emphasize the struggles of loving somebody while also having to assume responsibility for them. People often don’t realize that love isn’t only cheerful and happy; instead, there is also heavy responsibility involved. The author doesn’t use the word “sweet” in front of the word “offices”, but instead uses “lonely”, which portrays the dutiful and often desolate nature of love. Thus, the father in “Those Winter Sundays” is a good parent because he recognizes that being a strong parent involves taking responsibility of the child, even if they do not understand or appreciate the

Get Access