rbn+Robert+Hayden's+Higher+Purpose

Robert Hayden was essentially adopted, living most of his life with close family friends. The higher purpose of this poem seems to be an attempt to thank his adopted father for the love he gave young Robert. The relationship between father and son in this poem is not necessarily a warm one. The cold of the house seems to mirror the chilliness of the apparent relationship. Yet, the speaker of the poem acknowledges how difficult it must have been for the father to be the first one to rise every Sunday morning to refuel the furnace and warm the house. This act seems to represent all the other difficult things fathers do for their families. In a way, then, the warmth of the furnace represents the warmth of a father's love. Hayden seems to be saying, "Dad, at the time I didn't really notice all the small things you did for us. I do now and my love for you is stronger because I'm now at the age where I complete similar acts for my own family." In this way, Hayden is almost making this poem a complex, honest Father's Day card, a thank you for the lonely, austere love his father gave.

TIP: When writing about the poet's higher purpose, you should try to get at the "big idea" inside (or behind) the poem. In other words, you could explore:

 * What you feel motivated the poet to create the work in the first place.
 * One of the lessons the poet wants the reader to learn through the poem.
 * How could the poem, or the poet's ideas, make the world a better place? How can the poem, in some small way, change the way people think?
 * Remember, this response should be 6-8 sentences and it counts as one of the two hyperlinks of your own creation.
 * Remember, you can always write more of your own analysis. 5 hyperlinks is a minimum. 2 of these must be of "your own creation," but more can be created by you.