Essay
Examine the view that in Feminine Gospels women are presented as lonely individuals cut off from mainstream society.
Comparing 'the long queen' and 'work'
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Examine the view that in Feminine Gospels women are presented as lonely individuals cut off frommainstream society.
You must refer to at least two poems in your answer.
Whilst Carol Ann Duffy presents women as lonely individuals cut off from society in Feminine
Gospels, Duffy also explores the necessity of women in society for society to function and thrive. In
‘The Long Queen’ Duffy explores the concept of every woman being protected by the Queen as well
as the use of history to represent real women of the past, but whilst women are presented as a
necessity for society, ‘The Long Queens’ lack of reference towards men suggests that women are
lonely individuals. In contrast, ‘Work’ explores the necessity of women in society as the main female
protagonist ends up working herself to death in order to provide for society, which suggests that
women are not cut off from society but rather held to impossibly high expectations.
‘The Long Queen’ presents a strong female protagonist that remains unnamed. Whilst the female
protagonist is unnamed the suggestion of immortality (‘couldn’t die’) leads the reader to assume
that the ‘Long Queen’ is Elizabeth I, who was renowned for her long reign. Elizabeth I was renowned
for her long reign, but she was also known for her refusal to take a husband. The lack of a husband
during the 1500s, would be extremely controversial and would have resulted in a woman being cut
off from mainstream society for not meeting the societal expectations. As the ‘Queen’ in the poem
remains unnamed, it allows the audience to focus on the achievements of women instead of
focusing on identity. By doing this Duffy celebrates the achievements of women and by referencing
women from the past Duffy celebrates the evolution of women in society throughout history.
Duffy opens the poem with the blunt and definitive ‘The Long Queen couldn’t die’, introducing the
idea of a mythical representation of a woman’s experience. Despite ‘Queen’ suggesting power and
authority, Duffy conveys the extent of female suffering through the paradoxical juxtaposition of
‘Queen’ being a realistic living person compared to the statement of ‘couldn’t die’ which suggests a
god-like immortality. Despite this sense of immortality, the main female protagonist is still portrayed
as powerless without a ‘husband’, Duffy uses this paradoxical opening to highlight the ‘gospel’ truth
of womanhood and the strong stereotypes of the patriarchy.
Duffy uses this poem to show the developments of society as well as to celebrate women, by using
‘The Long Queen’ as the opening poem to the collection, Duffy sets the tone. The use of this poem as
the opening to the collection, allows Duffy to present to the audience how each poem will show
diversity through women in the form of an asyndetic list, that highlights ‘women, girls, spinsters and
hags..’ are all protected by the ‘queen’. As well as conveying to the audience the challenges to
adversity that women experience and the strong expectations of the patriarchy. Whilst it is
suggested that ‘The Long Queen’ focuses on the achievements of Elizabeth I, it can be interpreted
that Duffy is using this poem to begin the collection for the ‘Queen’ of the poem to oversee and
protect all women within the collection. Duffy does this to show the audience how despite the
women being cut off from society, they are empowered together and are unstoppable despite the
‘laws’ of society.
On the other hand, ‘Work’ presents women as a necessity to society through the perceived role of
women being ‘maternal’. Similar to ‘The Long Queen’, ‘Work’ explores the idea of an ‘immortal
woman’ as the protagonist lives through the medieval renaissance period through the development
of humans and modern society. By presenting women as ‘mythical’ Duffy highlights the unrealistic
views of the patriarchy through subtly mocking the idea that women do not exist. This sense of
immortality allows Duffy to highlight women as God-like which shows the necessity of women in
society.
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