once upon a time appreciation for who is the speaker in 6th and 7th stanza
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Answer:
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First Stanza
The first line suggests that this poem is going to be based on a story, is a kind of story or or fairytale?
The speaker is addressing his son, so this could well be a father beginning to explain how things used to be, how people 'they' used to laugh with their hearts and eyes. Back in the past.
In contrast, nowadays laughter is more of a show of teeth, and the eyes are cold and looking for something other than the real person.
So already the present is being judged by the past. And from what we can gather from these first six lines, the speaker prefers the attitudes of the people from the past. There is the feeling that negative change is here.
Second Stanza
The art of shaking hands has also changed. In the past a greeting was genuine, a person welcomed for who they were. But nowadays people shake hands with one eye on your status, your financial status.
People are no longer genuinely warm towards others. People are on the make, wanting to get something from you.
Third Stanza
People invite you round to their homes making out as if you're important to them but if you don't measure up socially or your status isn't quite right, you're not invited again.
The alienation continues. People nowadays are artificial and fickle because of the change in culture.
Once Upon A Time Analysis Stanza by Stanza
Fourth Stanza
The first three stanzas outline the speaker's perception of changing culture and attitudes and values in his country.
This fourth stanza describes how the speaker himself had to change and learn in order to comply. He uses a comparison - faces to dresses - to highlight the various personas he took on, all the while smiling.
The repeated use of face affixed to various places and situations is highly visual.
Fifth Stanza
He also has become adept at the heartless hand shake and hollow toothy smile, plus he knows how to deceive people with his farewells and welcomes and false politeness.
Basically he is saying that he has become an integral part of this new culture. It's been quite an education for him.
Sixth Stanza
But he is not happy being a conformist. He wants to regain a former innocence the youngster still holds. He wants no part of this new culture and all these muting things. That word muting means to deaden in this context.
What he wants most is to be able to laugh in innocence again - he likens himself to a snake, his teeth hold something toxic, even dangerous.