The+Waltz

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Dorothy Parker was a female author, poet, and columnist during a time period of moral, social, and ethical upheaval, called the Modernism era. Introspective, edgy, and questioning authors presented the world with fiction, poems, plays, and movies that changed the way people looked at themselves and the world. Dorothy Parker was one of these authors, providing her readers with cynical romanticism as “a symbol of modern emancipated womanhood” (Baym 1441). Dorothy authored short stories like //Big Blonde//, hosting female protagonists and depicting the new, modern woman and her inner thoughts and feelings (Baym 1442). Dorothy continued to publish short stories and collections of her poems throughout her life, using her trademark of inner and outer speech, as well as her personal experiences and beliefs (Baym 1442). Her short story //The Waltz// is the perfect example of Parker’s cynical romanticism style (Baym 1442). When evaluating the phrase “cynical romanticism”, one may notice that the words appear to be contradictory. However, the contradiction is key. In //The Waltz//, Dorothy writes in the first person as a female narrator who agrees to dance with a man that she has no desire to dance with whatsoever. Dorothy keeps the reader laughing with biting commentary and insults focused on her dance partner. This short story is a great look at the psychology of women stuck in marriages and relationships that they despise, or are stuck in their traditional roles and do not speak their mind. In //The Waltz,// Dorothy writes in italics when she is speaking directly to her dancing partner. These italic speeches are all lies and complete contradictions of her true feelings. For instance, on page 1445, Dorothy states, “//Why, I’m simply thrilled. I’d love to waltz with you.// I’d love to waltz with you. I’d love to have my tonsils out, I’d love to be in a midnight fire at sea.” This line, along with many others like it, is a great example of cynical romanticism as Dorothy speaks as an eager and frivolous girl, all the while thinking like a sarcastic and grown woman. As the short story progresses, the reader witnesses Dorothy as her attitude worsens toward her dance partner. She thinks in cutting irony and purposely depicts herself as the least ideal candidate for this man. For instance, she says, “Why, he scarcely knows my name, let alone what it stands for. It stands for Despair, Bewilderment, Futility, Degradation, and Premeditated Murder” (Parker 1445). Dorothy keeps the facade up though, reassuring her partner after he steps on her multiple times and occasionally kicks her shin, giving him the impression that she is forgiving and nonjudgmental, which is not the case. The tone of the short story takes a turn for the worse as Dorothy inwardly mocks her partner’s country upbringing and questions his education as he determinedly barrels them through the waltz. She mentions his “degenerate cunning” and hates the “creature” she is “chained to”, claiming, “ I hated him the moment I saw his leering, bestial face” (Parker). It is in this part of the short story that Parker makes it clear to her readers that although she may think in a nontraditional and Modernist way, she is still fulfilling the traditional female role expected of ladies of the past. Parker married for the first time in 1917 and although she was not formally divorced until 1928, the marriage ended in 1919 (Baym 1443). Perhaps this short story is a look at how Dorothy felt in her first marriage: “trapped like a trap in a trap” with nothing to do but keep waltzing (Parker). At face value, //The Waltz// presents itself as an amusing tale of a woman dancing with a terrible partner. However, when one delves deeper into the components of this short story, Parker’s cynical romanticism shines through in many ways. By changing her writing style from italics to regular font, Parker presents to the reader and her partner what she is saying. Her thoughts in regular font inform her reader(s) that not only is every word out of her mouth a lie, they are insulting and demeaning in their phony delivery. The reader also cannot help but notice that although Parker clearly despises her partner and wishes to do anything but waltz with him, she continues to do so. Parker actually agrees to a second dance, allowing the reader to interpret that she either feels she cannot escape her traditional role of agreeing with everything a man says, or she is a tragic masochist. Parker presents the readers of this poem with a look at cynical romanticism and the beliefs and thoughts of a Modernist woman with her short story, //The Waltz.// Works Cited

Baym, Nina. "Dorothy Parker." //The Norton Anthology of American Literature//. New York: W.W. Norton, 1994. 1442-443. Print.

Parker, Dorothy. "The Waltz." 1979. //The Norton Anthology of American Literature//. Fourth ed. Vol. 2. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1994. 1444-447. Print.

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In the period of Modern literature, women’s rights were a big issue. Dorothy Parker, a modern woman, felt free to write about what she truly felt in such works as “The Waltz” due to the new rights gained during this first wave of the feminist movement during the 1920s. She was an advocate for women’s individuality and promoted feminism through her creative writing and poetry, a new form of empowering women as a whole. As a work of Modernism, “The Waltz” depicts a woman’s true thoughts about matters previously seen only as enjoyable for women by men. This work spoke out against previous ideals, a truly Modern notion.

One of the greatest achievements in Women’s Rights was the passing of the 19th amendment in 1920 allowing for women’s suffrage (Imbornoni). Just a few years prior to this major event, Parker began her career with //Vanity Fair Magazine// (Academy). As her career continued into the 1920s, she was empowered by such events as the 19th amendment to write the true feelings of women, as in “The Waltz” by means of such things as poetry and even a bit of wit in the form of sarcasm. Before the 19th amendment, however, she was a very modern woman. She had been married once, soon to be divorced, a practice unheard of in previous years (Academy). She was the woman’s woman, standing up for feminist beliefs on any occasion possible.

“The Waltz” is a shining example of Parker’s dry wit and sarcasm. The short story outlines a dance danced by a woman with a man whom she does not like (Parker 1-2). However, the woman just keeps dancing and smiling all the while (Parker 1-2). The woman’s thoughts reveal that she hates the Waltz throughout the entire poem, in increasing intensity (Parker 1-2). The revelation of the woman’s thoughts provides a new and fresh Modern style to the work. Soon, the dance turns into a symbol for the couple’s life, transferring seamlessly from a physical dance to a daily routine of an unhappy marriage (Parker 2).

Parker gained influence for this short story’s theme of an unhappy marriage from her divorce in 1928 (Academy). Her marriage of 11 years was an unhappy one as clearly displayed in the writing of “The Waltz” (Academy).

The beginning of the marriage was one of infatuation, according to the story (Parker 2). After the long run leading up to the marriage-dance, the reader would expect the woman to continue hating her dance partner. However, one paragraph of absolute infatuation ensues (Parker 2). This shows the indecisiveness of women, an imperfection not mentioned previously by women about themselves. This indecisiveness continues as the woman grows tired of the waltz (Parker 2). Once again, the matter-of-fact statements ensue degrading her long time dance partner with whom she has aged (Parker 2). In the end, the waltz lulls on and on after a brief pause, signifying the continuation of the woman’s indecisiveness (Parker 2).

Parker’s speaking out about women’s true feelings makes her work truly Modern. This is tinged with witty and facetious remarks, making her style even more Modern, especially for a women of this time period. Her writing of “The Waltz” was influenced by her unhappy marriage that ended in divorce, a modern concept. As a Modern woman, Dorothy Parker promoted individuality of women through new implications of wit and honesty.

"Dorothy Parker." //Poets.org - Poetry, Poems, Bios & More//. Web. 27 May 2010. .

Imbornoni, Ann-Marie. "Women's Rights Movement in the U.S.: Timeline of Events (1848-1920) — Infoplease.com." //Infoplease//. Web. 27 May 2010. .

Lorcher, Trent. "Modernism in Literature: What Is Modernism?" //Bright Hub//. 26 Dec. 2009. Web. 26 May 2010. .

Parker, Dorothy. "The Waltz." 1979. //The Norton Anthology of American Literature//. Fourth ed. Vol. 2. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1994. 1444-447. Print.