Khaki Suit (Symbol)
In the poem, Cheevy "[eyes] a khaki suit with loathing" (Line 22). The khaki suit is symbolic of hard work and participation in society. Cheevy only "[eyes]" the suit; he doesn't put it on, which demonstrates that he does not accept the values of his time. The preceding line reads, "Miniver cursed the commonplace," and the word "khaki" is linked to "curse" and "commonplace" through the consonance of the hard "c" sound (Line 21).
The khaki suit is also emblematic of the military. Khaki, a twilled beige cloth, was first used by American soldiers during the Spanish-American War in 1898. Though it was later adopted by civilians, it is likely that during Robinson's time, the khaki suit represented the military. The next lines of the poem support this: Cheevy "[misses] the mediæval grace / Of iron clothing" (Lines 23-24). Iron clothing refers to armor.
Thebes and Camelot (Symbols)
Thebes and Camelot are two great kingdoms of the past specifically mentioned in Cheevy's fantasies. His aspiration is for the excitement, prestige, and renown that he perceives to have been attainable only during those times.
As symbols of “Golden Ages,” they represent Cheevy's narrow view of the past. Camelot is a mythical place, and it faced destruction in certain versions of the Arthurian legends. Thebes was destroyed before the birth of Christ, never to return to prominence again.
Unattainable Glory (Motif)
Cheevy's longing for the unattainable glory of the past shows up repeatedly. The fact that Cheevy was ever born causes him to weep in the first stanza, while elements of chivalric romance cause him to dance in the second. The majority of the verbs that describe Cheevy's actions in the poem suggest his dissatisfaction with and avoidance of reality: he sighs, dreams, rests from his labors, mourns, curses, misses, overthinks, and drinks.
The irony inherent in Cheevy's desires is that they are little more than delusional fantasies.
