GIUSEPPE
, ABOUT
• ‘Giuseppe’ combines realism with myth to examine how humans can
commit terrible acts of cruelty, and find ways to excuse the darkest of
deeds. The aim of the poem is to ask, ‘what makes us human?’.
• The poem suggests that in times of war normal morality is suspended.
The mermaid, representing any outsider or enemy, is
sufficiently ‘alien’ to allow us to suspend accepted standards.
• The title of the poem is the first name of the speaker’s uncle –
Giuseppe, meaning Joseph. No title like ‘uncle’ or ‘Mr’ is given to him.
This suggests that what happens, the brutality and inhumanity,
serves to disconnect the speaker from a family member. It
implies shame and deep disapproval.
• The detached, understated tone and the ‘alien’ figure of the mermaid
are characteristics of the poet, who is diagnosed with Asperger’s
Syndrome, and writes from the point of view of an outsider.
, ABOUT
• ‘Giuseppe’ combines realism with myth to examine how humans can
commit terrible acts of cruelty, and find ways to excuse the darkest of
deeds. The aim of the poem is to ask, ‘what makes us human?’.
• The poem suggests that in times of war normal morality is suspended.
The mermaid, representing any outsider or enemy, is
sufficiently ‘alien’ to allow us to suspend accepted standards.
• The title of the poem is the first name of the speaker’s uncle –
Giuseppe, meaning Joseph. No title like ‘uncle’ or ‘Mr’ is given to him.
This suggests that what happens, the brutality and inhumanity,
serves to disconnect the speaker from a family member. It
implies shame and deep disapproval.
• The detached, understated tone and the ‘alien’ figure of the mermaid
are characteristics of the poet, who is diagnosed with Asperger’s
Syndrome, and writes from the point of view of an outsider.
