Born too Late?

E.A. Robinson presents us with “Miniver Cheevy” to send a message regarding resentment.

In subtle ways, Robinson makes it clear that Miniver Cheevy’s real life contrasts the life of honor and excitement that he romanticizes. While, “Miniver love[s] the old when swords were bright and steeds were prancing,” he, “sigh[s] for what [is] not, and dream[s].” Toward the end of the poem,”Miniver scorn[s] the gold he [seeks], but sore annoyed [is] he without it,” suggesting that he lives in a constant state of longing and never finds his life to be satisfactory.

Miniver believes himself to be an anachronism and blames fate for his misfortune, so I think readers should make him out to be indolent and without gratitude for the life that he was dealt. Robinson characterizes Miniver as such by not providing the character with a positive resolution. In the very end, Miniver calls his misfortune, “fate, and [keeps] on drinking.”

At one point, Miniver, “[weeps] that he was ever born,” which highlights his incapacity to actively improve his perception of life. Perhaps Robinson means to convey with Miniver’s lifelong commitment to misery that resentment ultimately leads to unhappiness and depression, as exhibited with Miniver when he, “[keeps] on drinking.”