Carol Ann Duffy Poems
Carol Ann Duffy is known for her collection of poems that aim to show how identity is misrepresented within women especially and helps highlight existing stereotypes present in our society. She is able to effectively portray her ideas about feminism in an original way to show how women are typically mistreated especially in modern-day patriarchal society. She is able to bring across male dominance effectively as she typically presents the male to be the protagonists of the story. She puts her own twist on stories with existing figures present from Greek mythology and the bible to help bring it across as a more prominent issue.
The poem ‘Thetis’ sheds a light on how women are seen to be the ones in the shadow of the man as they are typically seen to be more vulnerable and easily adaptable. Hence, linking back to the poem’s title ‘Thetis’ which in greek methodology refers to the god who had the ability to change her form at will and therefore shapeshift. Relating to the idea that, whatever form women are in they are no match for male dominance and can only escape from this when they adapt to fit societal norms where they have children.
In the poem ‘Salome’ we are presented with role reversal as women are depicted to be the protagonists who assert great levels of dominance and adopt the stereotypical lifestyle of a male “sex, booze and fags”. Carol Ann Duffy chooses to give Salome all the power to create a new perspective for readers that helps strengthen previously established ones.
In the poem ‘Little Red Cap’ presented as a version of ‘little red riding hood’ we are presented with the main character who asserts typical stereotypical traits of a female. being vulnerable, fragile, and weak. We see how throughout the story she adapts to the control of the wolf.