Candidate name: Isabella Mae Ram Candidate number: 5280 Centre number: 52211
Comment closely on the ways in which and to what extent Duffy
celebrates women in a poem of your choice. How far does this
poem reflect the style and concerns of the collection?
Queen Herod, from “Hawked, spat, snatched” to end.
In “The Worlds Wife” Duffy chooses to focus on a collection of women who
have been overlooked by their husbands, enabling a transformation of
their stories to an indication of their bravery or cleverness, instead of
focusing on them as victims. The “Queen Herod” gives a different outlook
to the problems of sexual abuse on women and girls and gives an
alternative solution. It highlights the women’s cunningness, sense of
community and the sacrifices they make to truly feel safe in the Kingdom.
Their unequivocal belief that they are doing a good deed when killing the
boys will alarm the reader, but it is possible to also praise them for their
decision as they fight back against the patriarchy which has oppressed
them, however the extent of this can be challenged. The concerns of the
collection, such as sexism, equality, bereavement and birth, are all
addressed by giving these unheard women a voice and the readers a
chance to celebrate them, with all the characteristics the possess.
Duffy presents the cunningness of the protagonist in the poem “Queen
Herod” as a quality the reader can celebrate but must be wary of. Duffy
displays the Queen’s love for her child, as overpowering and aggressive in
which the Queens unify to protect the baby. Duffy describes ‘as
prophesied, blatant, brazen, buoyant … and blue - … The Boyfriends star’
as a closing statement on the star that the Queens hate and are so wary
of. The continuous alliterative, plosive ‘b’s reveal how the star is metaphor
for the boys, and the male gender, which has condemned her and women
all around her. The exaggerated description of ‘The Boyfriends Star’ could
also be a tribute to a mother’s love, and how it is as long-lasting as this
star in the sky. This over-affectionate interpretation could however be
perceived as an aggressive indication to the reader that the “Boyfriend”
and boys around the world, are being doomed by the Queen, again due to
the hard plosive ‘b’ sound. The cunningness of the women is reinforced by
one of the concluding tercets, “We do our best, / We Queens, we mothers.
/ Mothers of Queens.” The use of repeating ‘we’ is an attempt of the
Queens to gather their thoughts and explain their motives in protecting
the baby girl. They try to blame the generations of women who have done
the same. Conversely, Duffy uses repetition and the muddled final tercet
to justify her drastic actions and ask for forgiveness for the murder of
hundreds of boys which is indicated in previous stanzas. By appealing to
the idea of inheriting this protective quality, and the emphasis of the
tercet, it could be perceived that the queens are in a way asking for
forgiveness, or dismissal of their crimes, as they are reasoning with the
reader.
Similarly The poem “Delilah” uses structure to show the protagonist is
strong and unafraid to exploit Sansom’s weaknesses as the final couplet
Word count with quotes: 576. Word count without Quotes: 522.
Comment closely on the ways in which and to what extent Duffy
celebrates women in a poem of your choice. How far does this
poem reflect the style and concerns of the collection?
Queen Herod, from “Hawked, spat, snatched” to end.
In “The Worlds Wife” Duffy chooses to focus on a collection of women who
have been overlooked by their husbands, enabling a transformation of
their stories to an indication of their bravery or cleverness, instead of
focusing on them as victims. The “Queen Herod” gives a different outlook
to the problems of sexual abuse on women and girls and gives an
alternative solution. It highlights the women’s cunningness, sense of
community and the sacrifices they make to truly feel safe in the Kingdom.
Their unequivocal belief that they are doing a good deed when killing the
boys will alarm the reader, but it is possible to also praise them for their
decision as they fight back against the patriarchy which has oppressed
them, however the extent of this can be challenged. The concerns of the
collection, such as sexism, equality, bereavement and birth, are all
addressed by giving these unheard women a voice and the readers a
chance to celebrate them, with all the characteristics the possess.
Duffy presents the cunningness of the protagonist in the poem “Queen
Herod” as a quality the reader can celebrate but must be wary of. Duffy
displays the Queen’s love for her child, as overpowering and aggressive in
which the Queens unify to protect the baby. Duffy describes ‘as
prophesied, blatant, brazen, buoyant … and blue - … The Boyfriends star’
as a closing statement on the star that the Queens hate and are so wary
of. The continuous alliterative, plosive ‘b’s reveal how the star is metaphor
for the boys, and the male gender, which has condemned her and women
all around her. The exaggerated description of ‘The Boyfriends Star’ could
also be a tribute to a mother’s love, and how it is as long-lasting as this
star in the sky. This over-affectionate interpretation could however be
perceived as an aggressive indication to the reader that the “Boyfriend”
and boys around the world, are being doomed by the Queen, again due to
the hard plosive ‘b’ sound. The cunningness of the women is reinforced by
one of the concluding tercets, “We do our best, / We Queens, we mothers.
/ Mothers of Queens.” The use of repeating ‘we’ is an attempt of the
Queens to gather their thoughts and explain their motives in protecting
the baby girl. They try to blame the generations of women who have done
the same. Conversely, Duffy uses repetition and the muddled final tercet
to justify her drastic actions and ask for forgiveness for the murder of
hundreds of boys which is indicated in previous stanzas. By appealing to
the idea of inheriting this protective quality, and the emphasis of the
tercet, it could be perceived that the queens are in a way asking for
forgiveness, or dismissal of their crimes, as they are reasoning with the
reader.
Similarly The poem “Delilah” uses structure to show the protagonist is
strong and unafraid to exploit Sansom’s weaknesses as the final couplet
Word count with quotes: 576. Word count without Quotes: 522.
