The Worlds Wife is a joyous collection of poems about women which was published in 1999, which are given a voice in society as the original stories/myths gave women no say. The poems features biblical, mythical and historical which are very well known. All the poems are dramatic monologues in a feminist approach. Most poems are seen as witty, interesting and hilarious. The main themes shown in ‘The Worlds Wife’ are marriage, homosexuality, birth and relationships
In the poems Delilah and Red Cap, we explore the themes female dominance, determination and manipulation, as they go to desperate measures to get what they want. In Little Red Cap Duffy presents presents how young female characters will go to unimaginable measures to get what they need. ‘sweet sixteen, never been, babe, waif, bought me a drink’ The vulnerability and courage she has to get what she wants, that Little Red Cap needs to know the wolfs tricks and tips for her own career. In Delilah Duffy also presents how she needs to go through certain strengths and certain actions to be able get her way and manipulate him ‘He fucked me again until he was sore’. Duffy shows in order for Delilah to get what she wants she needs to give her knowledge in love and ‘how to care’. Also the reader has acknowledgement of how it relates to the biblical story.
Delilah and Little Red Cap both show that the female gains power, as the poems show verse gender roles. The reader explores how in both poems Delilah and Little Red Cap have to hurt their lover in some way. ‘I took an axe to the wolf as he slept, one chop, scrotum to throat’. This quote is shows how Little Red Cap is now independent and does not need a man to be able to live a good life, also the quote shows the wolf had no compassion to help Little Red Cap and she had now realised this after ‘10 years’, also in Delilah Duffy presents how Delilah now has