Summary
Summary Beautiful by Carol Ann Duffy
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In depth consolidation of the poem :)
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beautiful💌 DUFFY’S MESSAGE & INTENTIONS:
the irony is that the lives of the beautiful women explored in the poem were difficult
contrastingly tragically to their physical loveliness
the essence of the message of this extended poem is that being beautiful can be a curse
damaging the women and stimulating abusive behaviour from those around them
explores complex issues relating to their power, their victimhood and hos society [esp. male society] can
exploit and destroy them
history always repeats itself
SUMMARY
explores the physical and mental damage that can come from beauty
Duffy traces 4 women: Helen of Troy, Cleopatra, Marilyn Monroe & Princess Diana
poem draws upon these experiences of these people to explore how males exploit and destroy them
although in some cases, beauty seems like an advantage - Duffy suggests that it is what brings attention
THEREFORE - downfall to these women
the physical beauty of these women is contrasted heavily by the tragic downfall each of them was forced into
CONTEXTS WIDER READING
Helen of Troy women and girls account for 4.9 million of those in
forced commercial sexual exploitation
Greek mythology - known as the daughter of
Zeus and Leda 6 million of those in forced labour in other economic
sectors
commonly referred to as the most beautiful
woman in the world - hence her inclusion in the
beautiful 1
, poem there are 600,000-800,000 people trafficked across
international borders each year
figure much loved in art and history
70% are female
Cleopatra
majority are forced into the commercial sex trade
famous in history + drama as the lover of Julius
Caesar + later as the wife of Mark Antony paparazzi:
actively influenced Roman politics - as did no receive anywhere between 20% - 70% of the
other woman of antiquity, the prototype of the royalties the picture earns, depending on the
romantic femme fatale photographer and the deal he or she negotiated
w/ the agency
Cleopatra was an exceptionally well-educated
intellectual, skilled in chemistry, economics, exclusive, unique shots can pay out in the range
mercantile strategy, military theory, law, + of $1,000 to $10,000
linguistics
Marilyn Monroe
brief appearances in movies made by the Fox
and Columbia studios
allegedly had an affair with John F. Kennedy -
famously sang Happy Birthday in NYC at a gala
died from overdosing of sleeping pills
(barbiturates) in her LA home
Monroe’s 23 movies grossed a total of more than
$200 million
Princess Diana
“Princess Di”
rapidly evolved into an icon of grace,
elegance + glamour
exuding natural charm + charisma
used her celebrity status to aid numerous
charitable causes + her changing hairstyles
and wardrobe made her a fashion trendsetter
suffered w/ postnatal depression, low self-
esteem, eating disorders, + the mounting strain
of being constantly pursued by both the official
media royal-watchers + the tabloid press
particularly the paparazzi
her compassion, personal warmth, humility, and
accessibility earned her the sobriquet “the
People’s Princess.”
beautiful 2
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