“summer is fading”- metaphor-progression of life- may resemble the
fading prime beauty of women as they experience the toil and strain of
domesticity-L’s frequently pseudo-misogynism is subverted with a
sympathetic tone towards the objectification of the female form. “in ones
and twos”- slows the pace- slow passing/loss of time-bleak idea of the
unstoppable passage of time. AI= partnership-some disjointed (criticises
divorce).
“fading, bordering, washing, lying, pushing”- repetition of the ‘Ing’
sound-present tense form may reflect the monotonous and cyclical nature
of domestic life and create a sombre atmosphere by presenting the
inexorable process of domesticity.
“trees bordering…behind them, at intervals stand husbands in
their skilled trades, an estateful of washing,”-sense of
claustrophobia-physically surrounded. AI= sense of entrapment as they
are confined to the domestic sphere. “behind”-distance in the relationship-
modern relationships are mundane and emotionless. Commas-mimetic for
their figurative separation-no comma between husbands and skill-breaks
rhyme scheme-intentional. “an estateful of washing”-hyperbolic-
overwhelming abundance-amplifies lack of husband and commodity of
husband’s domestic labour.
“before them, the wind/is ruining their courting places/that are
still courting places/(but the lovers are all in school)”-romance has
diminished due to the effacious practise of child-rearing (just as the wind
physically disturbs their former meeting places). Repetition of ‘courting
places”-doomed inevitability (parenthesis) of following their parent’s fate-
hopeless future.
“young mothers assemble…in the hollows of the afternoon”-
perhaps for safety, support or entertainment as adjective “hollow” has
connotations of emptiness and dissatisfaction with the
quotidian-‘assemble’ has connotations of a reluctant routine-melancholic
tone due to the lack of metaphysical meaning in their lives. A03-gender
restrictions-assigned women to a life of chores and children (”an
estateful of washing”) , while restricting their ability to gain an income
through their own profession. Collective “young mothers”-large scale-
sense of loneliness and vulnerability.
“swimming and Sandip…setting free their children”- sibilance-
juxtaposes children’s freedom with mother’s lack of liberation.
“our wedding lying next to the television”- echoes the common
trope of consumerism-polysemic-illusory nature of weddings (‘crimson
curtains’ in the windows) conceals the difficulties of a relationship and
leads to false marital expectations in a society that views marriage as
morally rewarding. Positioning the wedding album next to the ‘television’-
visual reminder of how materialism can physically displace and replace
fading prime beauty of women as they experience the toil and strain of
domesticity-L’s frequently pseudo-misogynism is subverted with a
sympathetic tone towards the objectification of the female form. “in ones
and twos”- slows the pace- slow passing/loss of time-bleak idea of the
unstoppable passage of time. AI= partnership-some disjointed (criticises
divorce).
“fading, bordering, washing, lying, pushing”- repetition of the ‘Ing’
sound-present tense form may reflect the monotonous and cyclical nature
of domestic life and create a sombre atmosphere by presenting the
inexorable process of domesticity.
“trees bordering…behind them, at intervals stand husbands in
their skilled trades, an estateful of washing,”-sense of
claustrophobia-physically surrounded. AI= sense of entrapment as they
are confined to the domestic sphere. “behind”-distance in the relationship-
modern relationships are mundane and emotionless. Commas-mimetic for
their figurative separation-no comma between husbands and skill-breaks
rhyme scheme-intentional. “an estateful of washing”-hyperbolic-
overwhelming abundance-amplifies lack of husband and commodity of
husband’s domestic labour.
“before them, the wind/is ruining their courting places/that are
still courting places/(but the lovers are all in school)”-romance has
diminished due to the effacious practise of child-rearing (just as the wind
physically disturbs their former meeting places). Repetition of ‘courting
places”-doomed inevitability (parenthesis) of following their parent’s fate-
hopeless future.
“young mothers assemble…in the hollows of the afternoon”-
perhaps for safety, support or entertainment as adjective “hollow” has
connotations of emptiness and dissatisfaction with the
quotidian-‘assemble’ has connotations of a reluctant routine-melancholic
tone due to the lack of metaphysical meaning in their lives. A03-gender
restrictions-assigned women to a life of chores and children (”an
estateful of washing”) , while restricting their ability to gain an income
through their own profession. Collective “young mothers”-large scale-
sense of loneliness and vulnerability.
“swimming and Sandip…setting free their children”- sibilance-
juxtaposes children’s freedom with mother’s lack of liberation.
“our wedding lying next to the television”- echoes the common
trope of consumerism-polysemic-illusory nature of weddings (‘crimson
curtains’ in the windows) conceals the difficulties of a relationship and
leads to false marital expectations in a society that views marriage as
morally rewarding. Positioning the wedding album next to the ‘television’-
visual reminder of how materialism can physically displace and replace
