Daydreamer

In the poem "Miniver Cheevy," by Edwin Arlington Robinson, Robinson depicts a man who "wept that he as ever born." Miniver "misse[s] the medieval grace," and daydreams of the past that he's never experience. Miniver Cheevy just seems like a bitter man who got stuck in the tedium of life. He reminisces of the past like a child writing a Christmas list, but he does absolutely nothing about it; instead he "call[s] it fate, and [keeps] on drinking."

I believe Robinson is trying to convey the theme: if you have a dream, go and make it true. Miniver serves as a symbol and a wake-up call to our lives and to proactively work to make our dreams into reality, instead of drinking at a bar a grumpily blaming fate. Cheevy's medieval fantasies were not unachievable; it is entirely possible to find and immerse yourself with a community that shares the same interests, even the medieval times. He could have joined traveling groups that pretend to be medieval for months, or tried to join the community of cosplay, or even just learned how to fight with a sword. There are so many ways to bring the past back to life that Cheevy refused to see. Miniver's lack of activity turned him into a bitter man who "cursed the commonplace and eyed a khaki suit with loathing," as well as led him to waste away at a bar.

Miniver Cheevy serves as a prime example for as to what happens when you don't follow your dreams.