Danse Russe

Danse Russe Character List

Speaker

The speaker is the only character that appears in the poem. He is shown as a young father enjoying some time by himself. While his wife and child and a woman named Kathleen are mentioned, he is the only figure that physically appears in the text. This fits well with the poem's main theme, as the speaker dances before a mirror, observing his body in solitude. The speaker is portrayed, in his tone and diction, as comical and lighthearted. The register he utilizes is humorous, as befits the scene of him dancing in the nude. Given some of the similarities in style to Williams's other work, and the use of the name of his real-life nanny (Kathleen), it is reasonable to assume the speaker is Williams himself.