The poem “Medusa” by Carol Ann Duffy from her collection The World’s Wife is connected to the Greek story of Medusa who was killed by Perseus, a Greek hero, by using the a reflecting surface. Carol Ann Duffy’s poem is written in the perspective of Medusa. How could the text be read and interpreted differently by two different readers? The interpretation of the poem might vary depending on the age social status, gender, culture and the time period in which the text was read in. The variation of the interpretation will be based on the different interpretation of the literary devices such as metaphors, the effect of repetition and structure of the poem.
Specifically looking at the difference how different stereotypical gender roles would interpret the poem shows that the characterization of Medusa and Perseus might be different based on the variation of interpretation. If a male and a female audience is including the context of the poem both might include it differently. For instance, a female audience might include the lack of a female perspective throughout the Greek mythology while a male audience might focus on the fact that Perseus was a hero in several occasions in the greek mythology therefore a male audience might consider Perseus a heroic character. The metaphor “with a shield for a heart/ and a sword for a tongue” (Duffy line 37) is most likely …show more content…
However, the culture and the time setting has probably the most impact on the interpretation due to the fact that the poem is highly influenced by a greek and modern culture. Since the during different time episodes and in different cultures relationships are viewed differently is affects the characterisation of Medusa. In addition, the metaphors and repetition as well as structure can be also interpreted and read differently throughout culture, time, social status and
Specifically looking at the difference how different stereotypical gender roles would interpret the poem shows that the characterization of Medusa and Perseus might be different based on the variation of interpretation. If a male and a female audience is including the context of the poem both might include it differently. For instance, a female audience might include the lack of a female perspective throughout the Greek mythology while a male audience might focus on the fact that Perseus was a hero in several occasions in the greek mythology therefore a male audience might consider Perseus a heroic character. The metaphor “with a shield for a heart/ and a sword for a tongue” (Duffy line 37) is most likely …show more content…
However, the culture and the time setting has probably the most impact on the interpretation due to the fact that the poem is highly influenced by a greek and modern culture. Since the during different time episodes and in different cultures relationships are viewed differently is affects the characterisation of Medusa. In addition, the metaphors and repetition as well as structure can be also interpreted and read differently throughout culture, time, social status and