Dorthy Parker

“Razors pain you; rivers are damp.

Acid stains you; drugs cause cramp.

Guns aren’t lawful; nooses give.

Gas smells awful; you might as well live” (“Suicide” 2).

This is often considered the most famous poem of Dorothy Parker among her over 400 poems that she composed during her lifetime. What does this say about an author who thinks and feels this way, who expresses her every thought in her poetry? Words were nearly her whole life and she expressed her ideas through these words. Since she sold her first poem at the age of twenty-one, she has been influencing minds with her ideas and thoughts. Dorothy Parker led a very interesting life with her poetry and writings being a major entity, pouring her heart and soul, her thoughts and dreams into her writing therefore being a strong influence on American literature.

Parker was born to J. Henry and Eliza Rothschild on August 22, 1893 in West End, New Jersey. She didn’t have a very happy childhood for her mother died when she was very young and she endured a poor relationship with her father and stepmother. Writing was her passion ever since she was a little girl and it was also her escape. After having many of h

me, and in confession. / Softly, you told of loves that went before---/ of clinging arms, of kisses gladly given; / luxuriously clean of heart once more, /you rose up, then, and stood before me, shriven. /When this, my day of happiness, is trough. / And love, that bloomed so fair, turns brown and brittle, / there is a thing that I shall ask of you---/ I, who have given so much, and ask so little. / Some day, when there is another in my stead; / Again you will feel the need of absolution. / And you will go to her, and bow your head. / And offer her your past and contribution. / When with your list of loves you over come her, / for Heaven’s sake keep this one from her.” (Davidson 770)

“Yes, Parker married a few times, divorced a few times, drank, and wrote her heart out”(Davidson 783). As explains the American literary journal, she did have problems with commitment and drinking but above all she is known and should be known for her vast literary talent. Her skilful and clever poetry and character makes us look into ourselves as her wit makes us laugh at ourselves. This is one of the many reasons that Parker was and is so popular. Sadly she passed away of a heart attack on June seventh, 1967 at the Hotel Volney in New York City at the “Ripe old age of seventy-three.” She left behind a legacy.

For generations people have read her writings, memorized them, made movies about her, performed plays on her, and analyzed her in books all thanking her for her great contribution to American literature.

“Secrets, you said, would hold us two apart; / you’d have me know of your least

Throughout her childhood Parker dreamed of being a writer and since 1916 she did an extraordinary job. Being one of the only members of her Algonquin table to be remembered throughout centuries. She spoke of controversial topic

Some topics in this essay:
Dorothy Parker, Brendan Gill, Parker II, West Jersey, Hate Song”, Vanity Fair, York City, Algonquin Table, Algonquin Hotel, dorothy parker, american literature, Breese VII, influence american, influence american literature, algonquin table, modern love, american literary journal, literary journal, american literary,