What connotation is attributed to the "parlor generals" in the following lines from "To Be of Use"?

Answer 1

The term "parlor generals" in the following lines from the poem "To Be of Use" by Marge Piercy carries a negative connotation, suggesting that these individuals are armchair strategists or people who talk about taking action but never actually do anything:

"People who eat spaghetti with a spoon and picks it up

One strand at a time;

Our best people have the requisite fire, attributing

It to somebody else....."

In this context, the "parlor generals" are depicted as ineffective and lacking the true passion and fire needed to make a difference in the world. They are seen as individuals who talk a lot but fail to follow through with meaningful actions.