In "Follower" the person who follows is.
both father and son. but in the last stanza the father is stumbling behind the son. the next to last stanza the boy says "all I ever did was follow"
How has the relationship between the father and son changed?
This is what I got from the last stanza.
the father is now the son and the son is the parent.
That is in many ways what happens as people grow old. When young the child depends upon the parent, mimicks the parent, learns from the parent. Then in old age, the parent must depend upon the child, and often the child must look after the parent. This is happening more and more often as people live longer.
In the poem "Follower," the person who follows is both the father and the son. The poem explores the dynamics of their relationship and the roles they play in each other's lives.
To understand this, let's analyze the poem stanza by stanza:
Stanza 1-2: The speaker describes how as a child, he used to follow his father around on the farm, watching him work. This establishes the central theme of following and sets the stage for their relationship.
Stanza 3-4: The speaker highlights his father's skill and expertise in plowing fields. He describes how his father was a strong and admirable figure, creating an image of a traditional patriarchal role.
Stanza 5: The tone shifts as the poem introduces the idea that the son, who used to follow, is now being followed. The speaker implies that he has taken over the role of being the leader, perhaps due to his father's old age or a shift in their relationship dynamics.
Stanza 6: The son acknowledges his father's old age and physical limitations by stating, "But today it is my father who keeps stumbling behind me." This implies that the father is now struggling to keep up with the son, both physically and metaphorically.
Stanza 7: The son reflects on his own childhood behavior, admitting, "All I ever did was follow." This line suggests a sense of guilt or regret in realizing that he didn't appreciate his father's guidance and dedication when he was young.
Overall, the poem explores the reversal of roles between father and son. The son, who used to follow, is now leading, while the father, who used to lead, is stumbling behind. The poem captures the complexities of their relationship and the passage of time.