Mr. Flood Prompt

In “Mr. Flood’s Party” by Edwin Arlington Robinson, Mr. Flood is the main character. The mood that he portrays to the reader is dull and sad. In Tilbury town, people are hopeless and feel like the only point in living their life right now is to get to death. They live to die and are sad people in a hopeless situation. Mr. Flood is a prime candidate for an individual that might live in Tilbury town.

            Eben Flood, in the story, has taken his alcohol and is walking around a path by himself with “not a native near” (Line 6). Mr. Flood seems very sad and it appears that he is coming to the closing moments of his life. The story says that there are not many moons left, and Eben turns to alcohol. He seems to be familiar with the process. “And you and I have said it here before. Drink to the bird” gives the feeling that he has been a drinker in times past and that he is making a return for a few final times (Lines 12-13).

            Citizens of Tilbury town are depressing people. Mr. Flood has next to no emotion in his actions and words. Everything he does seems dreary and dull. It is actually quite amusing that the title refers to a “party”, though Eben is by himself on a lonely road drinking under the moon. At a time it even says that he regretted drinking after he had done it. 

            Eben Flood resembles a citizen of Tilbury town through his actions in the poem “Mr. Flood’s Party”. He is very dull and the night feels boring and he is doing things with regret. He matches the “depression” feel that a Tilbury Town citizen would resemble.