comparison of Carol Ann Duffy and Sheenagh Pugh, women.
Compare the ways in which Caroline Duffy and Sheenagh Pugh write about and present women in their poems ‘Standing Female Nude’ and ‘Sweet 18’.
One may note how the portrayal of women in society is one of the pivotal themes throughout Caroline Duffy’s poetry, whether it being one which depicts women’s empowerment, isolation or objectification in society. Caroline Duffy is very honest in her poetry, she is cynical in the fact that she is renowned for expressing things how they are; as expressed in her poem ‘Standing Female Nude’. Similarly, Sheenagh Pugh’s poem ‘Sweet 18’ presents women’s changing attitudes in society and their growing empowerment.
The title ‘Standing Female Nude’ alone reveals an allegory of the objectification of women and their position in society, displaying how they are metaphorically dominated and asked to sit down. However, Duffy highlights a change in the representation of women and a growing empowerment with the use of the verb ‘Standing’. One may argue that this displays how women are ‘Standing’ up for their rights. This viewpoint corroborates with Pugh’s stronger representation of women, displaying them to have a far more dominant role, and how they have a sense of empowerment over men. For instance, it becomes clear that the character, a young man, in ‘Sweet 18’ is intimidated by the female narrator. As displayed by his “shyness” and “hesitancy”, demonstrating how women’s role in society has changed; they are becoming powerful. Also, the man’s “hesitancy” depicts men’s reaction to this change, they are overwhelmed, illuminating this idea in Duffy’s poem that women are ‘Standing’ up for their rights.
‘Standing Female Nude’ itself portrays the thoughts of a female, lower class prostitute, modelling for an artist in France, whom wishes for fame through his ‘Art’. This is understood through Duffy’s use of 1st person narration, alongside a cynical tone and sardonic language, presented with the words, “few”, “belly nipple
One may note how the portrayal of women in society is one of the pivotal themes throughout Caroline Duffy’s poetry, whether it being one which depicts women’s empowerment, isolation or objectification in society. Caroline Duffy is very honest in her poetry, she is cynical in the fact that she is renowned for expressing things how they are; as expressed in her poem ‘Standing Female Nude’. Similarly, Sheenagh Pugh’s poem ‘Sweet 18’ presents women’s changing attitudes in society and their growing empowerment.
The title ‘Standing Female Nude’ alone reveals an allegory of the objectification of women and their position in society, displaying how they are metaphorically dominated and asked to sit down. However, Duffy highlights a change in the representation of women and a growing empowerment with the use of the verb ‘Standing’. One may argue that this displays how women are ‘Standing’ up for their rights. This viewpoint corroborates with Pugh’s stronger representation of women, displaying them to have a far more dominant role, and how they have a sense of empowerment over men. For instance, it becomes clear that the character, a young man, in ‘Sweet 18’ is intimidated by the female narrator. As displayed by his “shyness” and “hesitancy”, demonstrating how women’s role in society has changed; they are becoming powerful. Also, the man’s “hesitancy” depicts men’s reaction to this change, they are overwhelmed, illuminating this idea in Duffy’s poem that women are ‘Standing’ up for their rights.
‘Standing Female Nude’ itself portrays the thoughts of a female, lower class prostitute, modelling for an artist in France, whom wishes for fame through his ‘Art’. This is understood through Duffy’s use of 1st person narration, alongside a cynical tone and sardonic language, presented with the words, “few”, “belly nipple