In Carol Ann Duffy's 'The World's Wife', how does she present relationships?

Intro: Feminist theme running- 'The world's wife' - subordination and submission Encompasses toxicity of romantic relationships as a whole Contextual link: CAD married young and bisexual Para 1 - Coming-of-age relationships Little Red Cap - metaphor of going into forest at the start - reaching adolesence 'sixteen, never been' - use of little red riding hood, childhood fairytale represents vulnerability - reference to school uniform? Leaving forest after killing man - leaving vulnerability behind, killing what detrimented her, freedom Para 2 - Fantasy and realism Fantasy juxtaposes realism in LRC by putting LRC in role of hunter killing the wolf - the man is the wolf - consistent critcism of men - predatory Themes continue in Mrs Quasimodo Title - decreases identity of wife Bells = metaphor for quasimodos 'manhood' which the wife cuts off in the end - shows her taking control over man who evidently mistreated her ie. insults within poem Men portrayed badly frequently ie. quasimodo as unfaithful - CADs own perspective? Paragraph 3: Other relationships Demeter = poem about strength of familial love Weather represents mothers feelings - winter = drought, hibernation/sleeping and cold/frozen heart - daughter arriving and transition to spring = new beginnings, feelings blooming, awakening from hibernation into love Conclusion Men represent death in other two poems Child represents life - little girl Demeter based on Greek Myth rather than fairytale - more spiritual and something one can 'beleive in' than imaginary like fairy tales? Romantic relationships toxic? Familial relationships healing? Context to CAD's own life?

CC
Answered by Charlotte C. English Literature tutor

13045 Views

See similar English Literature A Level tutors

Related English Literature A Level answers

All answers ▸

Write about the significance of descriptive language in The Great Gatsby.


Compare and contrast the ways in which female madness is presented in both The Bell Jar and A Streetcar Named Desire.


In what way does Chaucer attempt to shock the reader through his characterisation of Alisoun in ‘The Wife of Bath’?


How do I stucture an essay?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning