How does Duffy present female identity across Beautiful, The Long Queen and Map woman?
Para 1:
Identity is something women are trying to escape- Map woman
Identity became a burden to them but they are still strong characters (Marilyn escape)-
beautiful
Para 2:
The past shapes your identity- all
Para 3:
Historical figures identity is very public but their identity leaves them a legacy- long queen
and beautiful
Duffy criticises the impact that female identity can have on powerful female figures
throughout history however also recognises how it shapes women into who they are today.
Female identity is a concept Duffy presents as very complicated as in ‘Map Woman’ it is
presented as something women are trying to escape whilst in ‘Beautiful’ Duffy
demonstrates how powerful figures have to withstand the burden of female identity being
in the public eye. Whereas, ‘The Long Queen’ depicts the responsibility of female identity
that comes with trying instil female unity.
Duffy contrasts female determination to escape the pressures that come with female
identity in ‘Map Woman’ with the burden that is attached to powerful female figures who
are in the public eye in ‘Beautiful’. In ‘Beautiful’ Duffy utilises four powerful female figures
from across history to portray the constancy of the pressures of female identity. Duffy first
explores the life of Helen of Troy who is seen to be desired by her suitors as they command
‘be mine’. Helen here is seen as a possession and is objectified by her male suitors which is
paralled in the section about Princess Diana where the male members of the press shout
‘act like a fucking princess’ and ‘give us a smile cunt’ where she is exposed to the male
cruelty and objectification also. It is significant how these female figures existed so far apart
in history yet they are still facing the same male cruelty demonstrating how Duffy is trying to
outline to the reader how little gender equality has really come. This idea of lack of progress
in gender quality is intensified as both of these female figures come to very tragic deaths as
their identity is constantly following them even after their death. Contrastingly, in ‘Map
Woman’ Duffy presents a more individual account of the pressures of female identity
demonstrating the desire to escape every part of it. Through Duffy’s use of enumeration in
the first stanza with a long list of ways she wants to cover up her body ‘with a dress, with a
shawl, with a hat, with mitts or a muff, with leggings, trousers or jeans…’ emphasising he
desperation to cover up all parts of her identity which she sees as a ‘tattoo’ on her body
suggesting its permanence and inescapability. You could argue the speaker is also lacking in
an identity through the extensive list of where she has lived ‘down south, abroad, en route,
up north, on a plane or train or boat…’ suggesting she is perhaps trying to find her identity
thus why she is trying to escape this one which holds a sense of lack of belonging. In the
final stanza Duffy concludes how you can never really escape your past identity as she
describes her ‘skin itched, like a rash, like a slow burn, felt stretched as though it belonged
Para 1:
Identity is something women are trying to escape- Map woman
Identity became a burden to them but they are still strong characters (Marilyn escape)-
beautiful
Para 2:
The past shapes your identity- all
Para 3:
Historical figures identity is very public but their identity leaves them a legacy- long queen
and beautiful
Duffy criticises the impact that female identity can have on powerful female figures
throughout history however also recognises how it shapes women into who they are today.
Female identity is a concept Duffy presents as very complicated as in ‘Map Woman’ it is
presented as something women are trying to escape whilst in ‘Beautiful’ Duffy
demonstrates how powerful figures have to withstand the burden of female identity being
in the public eye. Whereas, ‘The Long Queen’ depicts the responsibility of female identity
that comes with trying instil female unity.
Duffy contrasts female determination to escape the pressures that come with female
identity in ‘Map Woman’ with the burden that is attached to powerful female figures who
are in the public eye in ‘Beautiful’. In ‘Beautiful’ Duffy utilises four powerful female figures
from across history to portray the constancy of the pressures of female identity. Duffy first
explores the life of Helen of Troy who is seen to be desired by her suitors as they command
‘be mine’. Helen here is seen as a possession and is objectified by her male suitors which is
paralled in the section about Princess Diana where the male members of the press shout
‘act like a fucking princess’ and ‘give us a smile cunt’ where she is exposed to the male
cruelty and objectification also. It is significant how these female figures existed so far apart
in history yet they are still facing the same male cruelty demonstrating how Duffy is trying to
outline to the reader how little gender equality has really come. This idea of lack of progress
in gender quality is intensified as both of these female figures come to very tragic deaths as
their identity is constantly following them even after their death. Contrastingly, in ‘Map
Woman’ Duffy presents a more individual account of the pressures of female identity
demonstrating the desire to escape every part of it. Through Duffy’s use of enumeration in
the first stanza with a long list of ways she wants to cover up her body ‘with a dress, with a
shawl, with a hat, with mitts or a muff, with leggings, trousers or jeans…’ emphasising he
desperation to cover up all parts of her identity which she sees as a ‘tattoo’ on her body
suggesting its permanence and inescapability. You could argue the speaker is also lacking in
an identity through the extensive list of where she has lived ‘down south, abroad, en route,
up north, on a plane or train or boat…’ suggesting she is perhaps trying to find her identity
thus why she is trying to escape this one which holds a sense of lack of belonging. In the
final stanza Duffy concludes how you can never really escape your past identity as she
describes her ‘skin itched, like a rash, like a slow burn, felt stretched as though it belonged
