University Essay: My Father's Coat - Character and Poem Analysis

This essay provides a character analysis of Marc Kelly Smith's poem, 'My Father's Coat.' The essay begins with an examination of the speaker's identity, revealing that the poem is based on Smith's personal experiences and reflections on his relationship with his father. The analysis then delves into the speaker's purpose, highlighting the poem's broader themes and the message Smith intends to convey to his readers. The essay also explores the speaker's backstory, detailing the familial dynamics and Smith's complex relationship with his father, who was a distant and unaffectionate figure. The poem's central irony is discussed, emphasizing the transformation of the speaker. Ultimately, the essay concludes that despite a lack of affection, the speaker embodies the traits of his father, the analysis is supported by the reference to Slam Poetry Movement.

Running head: MY FATHER’S COAT: A CHARACTER ANALYSIS
MY FATHER’S COAT: A CHARACTER ANALYSIS
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

1MY FATHER’S COAT: A CHARACTER ANALYSIS
Marc Kelly Smith’s famous valedictory “My Father’s Coat” is the main focus of this
essay. The essay is split into three sections starting with the speaker identity, the speaker’s
purpose and backstory.
Marc Kelly Smith the author of My Father’s Coat is the speaker in this poem. Smith
has written this poem based on his life hence he is the speaker of this poem.
This poem of Marc Kelly Smith is the narration of Smith’s personal life which
resonates with the grief of other people who has lost their parents. The objective of Smith
was to provide a life lesson to all the people reading this poetry. Marc Smith dresses in the
coat of his late father yet Smith was not fond of his father. Smith’s father did not show any
affection towards him rather abandons him. Hence the author develops this hatred for his
father. Smith wanted to convey to all the readers that most of the people who does not want
to stay in their character anymore or wants to be someone else, puts on attitudes of other
people. In this poem the poet drives the readers to contemplate who they actually are and
what they are not ("Slam Poetry Movement", 2020).
Marc Smith was the youngest child in the family. His mother was a homemaker while
his father worked as a construction superintendent. Although he had a very good bond with
his mother, the same never happened between Smith and his father. His father, Archie was a
very tough man therefore there was no proper son and father relationship. After the death of
Archie, Smith wrote this poem. The poem illustrates an irony showing Smith never cared for
his father still after his death he wears his father’s coat.
Hence, from this analysis it can be concluded that the poet never loved his father yet
after his death he becomes like his father, a narrow man.

2MY FATHER’S COAT: A CHARACTER ANALYSIS
References
Slam Poetry Movement. (2020). Retrieved 15 February 2020, from
https://skyrisngpoems.weebly.com/slam-poetry-movement.html