Salome - Carol Ann Duffy - Close Analysis
Salome
Theme:
The themes first introduced are predominantly modern consisting of promiscuity and infidelity. The theme of feminism is first introduced towards the end of the piece when it becomes evident to the reader how much power Salome has over her male counterpart
Duffy’s reference to the tale of John the Baptist shows her modernising of the tale as it is subverted to suggest that Salome has had a one night stand, thus showing the theme of promiscuity. The story reverts to the original towards the end when John’s head is found to be on a platter as this is the occurrence that takes place in the original story. The fact that the head is now in her bed shows a modern take on this occurrence.
This shows that her actions are an attempt at female empowerment instead of showing her personal vendetta. The way that she is unable to remember that the man’s name shows that he is representative of the wider male population.
“Ive done it before, I’ll do it again” this shows that Salome has partaken in pre-marital sex numerous times and has not been reprimanded for this action; this subverts the expectations of this time period. The use of “ain’t life a bitch” shows that she is disregarding this event and makes it appear inconsequential.
Salome is metaphorically murdering the man by stealing his masculinity, this can be seen as subverted misogyny because it is typically the woman who is used during a one night-stand, and yet during this poem it is the man who is reduced because of it.
A one-night stand typically involved a man using a woman purely for her body, however in this version of events the fact that Salome has the ability to seek out this anonymous man and murder him shows her self-assured power and her ability to subdue him and carry out her own will on him without the interference from anyone else.
Persona:
Her nonchalant attitude towards having killed the man makes her appear to be a hardened or cold murderer
Her admission that “ive done it
Theme:
The themes first introduced are predominantly modern consisting of promiscuity and infidelity. The theme of feminism is first introduced towards the end of the piece when it becomes evident to the reader how much power Salome has over her male counterpart
Duffy’s reference to the tale of John the Baptist shows her modernising of the tale as it is subverted to suggest that Salome has had a one night stand, thus showing the theme of promiscuity. The story reverts to the original towards the end when John’s head is found to be on a platter as this is the occurrence that takes place in the original story. The fact that the head is now in her bed shows a modern take on this occurrence.
This shows that her actions are an attempt at female empowerment instead of showing her personal vendetta. The way that she is unable to remember that the man’s name shows that he is representative of the wider male population.
“Ive done it before, I’ll do it again” this shows that Salome has partaken in pre-marital sex numerous times and has not been reprimanded for this action; this subverts the expectations of this time period. The use of “ain’t life a bitch” shows that she is disregarding this event and makes it appear inconsequential.
Salome is metaphorically murdering the man by stealing his masculinity, this can be seen as subverted misogyny because it is typically the woman who is used during a one night-stand, and yet during this poem it is the man who is reduced because of it.
A one-night stand typically involved a man using a woman purely for her body, however in this version of events the fact that Salome has the ability to seek out this anonymous man and murder him shows her self-assured power and her ability to subdue him and carry out her own will on him without the interference from anyone else.
Persona:
Her nonchalant attitude towards having killed the man makes her appear to be a hardened or cold murderer
Her admission that “ive done it