In an interview with Barry Wood, Carol Ann Duffy articulated how enthralled she had become with the form of ‘Thetis’ and this extra attention is certainly evident within the poem. For example, in the second stanza Thetis becomes more empowered and the abrupt and direct opening statement ‘Then I did this:’ reflects her new found assertive nature. It is as if Thetis is almost commanding the reader to listen to her story. Further, Duffy’s use of a colon reiterates this firm tone as it mimics the structure of a list, something associated with control, power and organisation. Throughout the poem there are many formal structures such as this which, in accumulation, reiterate and add an intriguing depth to the poem’s articulated message.
Duffy’s …show more content…
For example, she uses colloquialisms such as in the fourth stanza when Thetis sees ‘the guy in the grass with the gun’. Perhaps this colloquial manner is utilised to demonstrate how common place the aggressive ownership attitude of men has become. His powerful gun seems to juxtapose the fear in hiding in the grass. It is as if Duffy suggests that the man is compensating for his fearful and avoidant personality by involving an unbeatable instrument of death. One could also argue that the gun’s intrinsic link to death suggests that by being caught by her suitor Thetis is, in effect, being shot and killed. She would lose all dignity, individuality and raison de etre in being married to someone she did not love. This Feminist argument is strengthened in the context of the poem as Anderson writes ‘as the title of the collection suggests, ‘The World’s Wife brings into light women who have been kept in the background while their male contemporise have, by and large, monopolised the limelight’. Thus, the individuality of women is a running theme throughout all of Duffy’s work. This is seen again in the enjambment of the line. It could be used to symbolise the sense of freedom and ease with which she flows from shape to shape, but this is then interrupted by the plosive sound of the ‘guy in the grass with the gun’ representing the sound of shots being
Duffy’s …show more content…
For example, she uses colloquialisms such as in the fourth stanza when Thetis sees ‘the guy in the grass with the gun’. Perhaps this colloquial manner is utilised to demonstrate how common place the aggressive ownership attitude of men has become. His powerful gun seems to juxtapose the fear in hiding in the grass. It is as if Duffy suggests that the man is compensating for his fearful and avoidant personality by involving an unbeatable instrument of death. One could also argue that the gun’s intrinsic link to death suggests that by being caught by her suitor Thetis is, in effect, being shot and killed. She would lose all dignity, individuality and raison de etre in being married to someone she did not love. This Feminist argument is strengthened in the context of the poem as Anderson writes ‘as the title of the collection suggests, ‘The World’s Wife brings into light women who have been kept in the background while their male contemporise have, by and large, monopolised the limelight’. Thus, the individuality of women is a running theme throughout all of Duffy’s work. This is seen again in the enjambment of the line. It could be used to symbolise the sense of freedom and ease with which she flows from shape to shape, but this is then interrupted by the plosive sound of the ‘guy in the grass with the gun’ representing the sound of shots being