Emotions Of Confusion And Cynicism In Gwen Harwood's

Harwood eases into her poem by integrating a thoughtful conception of the characters desire to “show [them] the order of the world.” This alludes to specific emotions of confusion and cynicism through the thought of the character not comprehending the manner in which the world works. In reference to Harwood’s time, women were perceived as inferior and were often expected to fulfill their lives only by becoming a housewife. In only becoming a mother, Harwood conveys to the reader that this character assumingly does not comprehend the reason women are expected to act in this manner. By including the connotation of “the order of the word” instead of explicitly describing how the character feels, the poet evokes into the reader emotions of doubt
and comprehension that women’s way of life in the 1950s were surreal because of how the character deeply believes that there must be more to life than what she is grasping. The poet further exemplifies the comprehension behind her words by including how the character desires an explanation, not of a “model, but the truth itself.” This highlights how the character understands that the way of life they are living is not the true way. She coerces the readers into recognizing that society expects certain things from women in her time and that there is more to life than only being a mother. Furthermore, also depicting society’s views on the matter of women’s roles in the 1950s and how it was limited only to that of being a housewife.