The World's Wife
Encyclopedia
The World's Wife is a collection of poems by Carol Ann Duffy
published in 1999.
The World's Wife is Carol Ann Duffy's first themed collection of poems, which was first published in 1999. The collection takes characters, stories, histories and myths which focus on men, and in Duffy's renowned feminist way, presents them anew for the public to look at the women that were previously obscured behind the men. It is a set text on some A2 and AS
Syllabuses of English Literature in England and Wales.
Some poems look at the story of the man from the woman's perspective, such as in "Mrs Aesop", whilst others change the story into one about women such as "The Kray Sisters".
Many of the poems are taken from the historical setting which they come from and brought into a modern day light, such as "Mrs. Faust", based on the Christopher Marlowe
play, The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus
, which was written in the 16th century. In "Mrs Faust", Duffy includes modern day fads such as face-lifts and credit cards.
A staged production of The World's Wife, performed by Linda Marlowe and directed by Di Sherlock, was acclaimed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2009, and transferred to the Trafalgar Studios
in London in 2010.
is seen to be reflective of her relationship with the poet Adrian Henri
. Also, there are many references to childbirth, children and feelings towards men, which could have been influenced by her own experiences. The collection can be seen as a step to adulthood as in the poem "Little Red Cap" the character is portrayed as learning from her mistakes and makes amends.
It can be argued that Duffy exemplifies the different roles of women from different perspectives. "The Devil's Wife" is a prime example of a poem in which the notion of female evil is identified.
Carol Ann Duffy’s poems often focus on the female perspective. In ‘A World’s Wife’ Duffy has achieved this by giving female characters a voice to speak out against male dominance; it also portrays a different side of the story compared to the traditional version which is focused on the male character.
Carol Ann Duffy
Carol Ann Duffy, CBE, FRSL is a Scottish poet and playwright. She is Professor of Contemporary Poetry at the Manchester Metropolitan University, and was appointed Britain's poet laureate in May 2009...
published in 1999.
The World's Wife is Carol Ann Duffy's first themed collection of poems, which was first published in 1999. The collection takes characters, stories, histories and myths which focus on men, and in Duffy's renowned feminist way, presents them anew for the public to look at the women that were previously obscured behind the men. It is a set text on some A2 and AS
GCE Advanced Level
The Advanced Level General Certificate of Education, commonly referred to as an A-level, is a qualification offered by education institutions in England, Northern Ireland, Wales, Cameroon, and the Cayman Islands...
Syllabuses of English Literature in England and Wales.
Themes
The World's Wife is a collection of poems that discuss themes such as sexism, equality, bereavement and birth. The World's Wife look at important events in history from a female perspective and in a controversial way.The anthology
- "Mrs QuasimodoQuasimodoQuasimodo is a fictional character in the novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo. Quasimodo was born with a hunchback and feared by the townspeople as a sort of monster but he finds sanctuary in an unlikely love that is fulfilled only in death. The role of Quasimodo has been played by...
" - "MedusaMedusaIn Greek mythology Medusa , " guardian, protectress") was a Gorgon, a chthonic monster, and a daughter of Phorcys and Ceto. The author Hyginus, interposes a generation and gives Medusa another chthonic pair as parents. Gazing directly upon her would turn onlookers to stone...
" - "The Devil's Wife"
- "CirceCirceIn Greek mythology, Circe is a minor goddess of magic , described in Homer's Odyssey as "The loveliest of all immortals", living on the island of Aeaea, famous for her part in the adventures of Odysseus.By most accounts, Circe was the daughter of Helios, the god of the sun, and Perse, an Oceanid...
" - "Mrs Lazarus"
- "Pygmalion's Bride"
- "Mrs Rip Van Winkle"
- "Mrs IcarusIcarus-Space and astronomy:* Icarus , on the Moon* Icarus , a planetary science journal* 1566 Icarus, an asteroid* IKAROS, a interplanetary unmanned spacecraft...
" - "Frau Freud"
- "Salome"
- "Eurydice"
- "The Kray SistersKray twinsReginald "Reggie" Kray and his twin brother Ronald "Ronnie" Kray were the foremost perpetrators of organised crime in London's East End during the 1950s and 1960s...
" - "Elvis's Twin Sister"
- "Pope Joan"
- "Penelope"
- "Mrs Beast"
- "Demeter"
- "Mrs FaustFaustFaust is the protagonist of a classic German legend; a highly successful scholar, but also dissatisfied with his life, and so makes a deal with the devil, exchanging his soul for unlimited knowledge and worldly pleasures. Faust's tale is the basis for many literary, artistic, cinematic, and musical...
" - "Mrs Darwin"
- "Little Red Cap (Poem)Little Red Cap (poem)The Little Red Cap is a poem by Carol Ann Duffy published by Picador as a part of her 1999 collection of poetry titled The World's Wife. The book consists of poems that are based on old stories and tales in which she reshapes in terms of modern day culture. Duffy is known for her trait to take...
" - "Queen Kong"
- "Anne HathawayAnne Hathaway (poem)Anne Hathaway is a poem by Carol Ann Duffy about Anne Hathaway, the wife of William Shakespeare.This poem, a sonnet, appears in The World's Wife, published in 1999, a collection of poems. The poem is based on the famous passage from Shakespeare's will regarding his "second-best bed"...
" - "ThetisThetisSilver-footed Thetis , disposer or "placer" , is encountered in Greek mythology mostly as a sea nymph or known as the goddess of water, one of the fifty Nereids, daughters of the ancient one of the seas with shape-shifting abilities who survives in the historical vestiges of most later Greek myths...
" - "Delilah"
Some poems look at the story of the man from the woman's perspective, such as in "Mrs Aesop", whilst others change the story into one about women such as "The Kray Sisters".
Many of the poems are taken from the historical setting which they come from and brought into a modern day light, such as "Mrs. Faust", based on the Christopher Marlowe
Christopher Marlowe
Christopher Marlowe was an English dramatist, poet and translator of the Elizabethan era. As the foremost Elizabethan tragedian, next to William Shakespeare, he is known for his blank verse, his overreaching protagonists, and his mysterious death.A warrant was issued for Marlowe's arrest on 18 May...
play, The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus
The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus
The Tragicall History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus, commonly referred to simply as Doctor Faustus, is a play by Christopher Marlowe, based on the Faust story, in which a man sells his soul to the devil for power and knowledge...
, which was written in the 16th century. In "Mrs Faust", Duffy includes modern day fads such as face-lifts and credit cards.
A staged production of The World's Wife, performed by Linda Marlowe and directed by Di Sherlock, was acclaimed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2009, and transferred to the Trafalgar Studios
Trafalgar Studios
Trafalgar Studios, formerly The Whitehall Theatre until 2004, is a West End theatre in Whitehall, near Trafalgar Square, in the City of Westminster, London....
in London in 2010.
Duffy's life
Many of the poems reflect Duffy's life. The poem Little Red Cap (Poem)Little Red Cap (poem)
The Little Red Cap is a poem by Carol Ann Duffy published by Picador as a part of her 1999 collection of poetry titled The World's Wife. The book consists of poems that are based on old stories and tales in which she reshapes in terms of modern day culture. Duffy is known for her trait to take...
is seen to be reflective of her relationship with the poet Adrian Henri
Adrian Henri
Adrian Henri was a British poet and painter best remembered as the founder of poetry-rock group The Liverpool Scene and as one of three poets in the best-selling anthology The Mersey Sound, along with Brian Patten and Roger McGough. The trio of Liverpool poets came to prominence in that city's...
. Also, there are many references to childbirth, children and feelings towards men, which could have been influenced by her own experiences. The collection can be seen as a step to adulthood as in the poem "Little Red Cap" the character is portrayed as learning from her mistakes and makes amends.
It can be argued that Duffy exemplifies the different roles of women from different perspectives. "The Devil's Wife" is a prime example of a poem in which the notion of female evil is identified.
Carol Ann Duffy’s poems often focus on the female perspective. In ‘A World’s Wife’ Duffy has achieved this by giving female characters a voice to speak out against male dominance; it also portrays a different side of the story compared to the traditional version which is focused on the male character.