Sundays

Sundays symbolize rest, family, and spiritual renewal. Rather than take Sundays as an opportunity to sleep in, the speaker's father rises early to tend to his family. He lights a fire, warms the household, polishes the speaker's good shoes, and eventually wakes the speaker.

The Blueblack Cold

The frigid temperatures and lack of light symbolize the speaker's sense of emotional distance and conflict. In an effort to avoid the chronic angers in the household, the speaker withdrew emotionally and later regrets not acknowledging the father's sacrifice.

The Fire

The weekly fire set by the speaker's father symbolizes unspoken and unappreciated love. Despite the conflicts and distance between family members, the speaker's father rose early each Sunday to make a fire, thus warming the household.

Love's austere and lonely offices

Love's austere and lonely offices symbolize the labor of supporting a family. While the speaker's father did...