Life — May 10, 1923 — page 10: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Hymn of Hate" by Dorothy Parker This satirical poem targets different categories of wives through bitter, humorous critique. Parker catalogs women she despises: Splendid Housekeepers who bore people with domestic minutiae; Drooping Lilies who play the victim while their husbands pursue other women; and Regular Little Pals who present themselves as ideal helpmates in business and social life. The satire mocks not individual women but rather the *types* and pretenses—women performing exaggerated domestic roles, feigning martyrdom, or presenting false competence. Parker's wit lies in exposing the gap between how these wives present themselves and their actual nature. The refrain "I hate Wives; Too many people have them" frames marriage itself as the problem, suggesting wives as social constructs rather than individuals. The illustrated vignettes reinforce each stereotype through caricature.