Gender and Psychology in Carol Ann Duffys Poems - Thesis Proposal Example

An Analysis of the Female Characters and Various Personae in the Poems of Carol Ann Duffy. Introduction: Writing about Carol Ann Duffy during my MA studies in 2006 encouraged me to pursue my research about her. Moreover, I was overwhelmed knowing that recently she has become Great Britain’s first woman Poet Laureate. Because of my passion for her poetry, I propose to write about the topics she addressed that are related to gender, psychology, history and society. Born in Glasgow in 1955, Carol Ann Duffy perceived herself as a disoriented being because of her Scottish roots. She has revealed her concern about the less fortunate in society, and has become known for her poetry of dramatic monologues that fearlessly explore controversial topics and subject matter to get at the truth. Issues of gender, society, psychology, surrealism, sexuality, history, and fantasy have all found a place on the pages of her books. In my thesis, I intend to explore her poetic device of the dramatic monologue and its relation to the multiplicity of voices her poetry embodies. To better understand the societal and literary importance that set her body of work apart from others, it is necessary to indicate how this type of monologue gives a sense of freedom and authority to the misunderstood and neglected. Furthermore, I plan to shed light on the mental processing of the marginalized through the speakers reflections; in addition, I will focus on how her characters create their own identity by transforming the narrative language. Overview with Objectives: The objectives of my research are firstly, to explore the various topics Carol Ann Duffy addressed in her writing, such as gender roles, female sexuality, suicide, and childhood, and to discuss what she had to say about each of them; secondly, to explore Carol Ann Duffy’s use of the narrative monologue as a vehicle of expression for her characters; and thirdly, to reveal the importance of Carol Ann Duffy’s body of work in the world of literature. Hypothesis: It is my supposition that an analytical exploration of Carol Ann Duffy’s poetry will reveal a female writer who has found her voice in controversial topics by allowing her characters to develop their voice through her writing. Problem: The question I want to address is how successful is Carol Ann Duffy at broadening the reader’s perception of women, by shedding light on women’s issues through the unique usage of narrative monologues? In several of her books, such as The World’s Wife, Feminine Gospels, and Selling Manhattan, Duffy uses her writing to bring the female characters from the background to the forefront to emphasize the importance of the female experience. Literature Review: Beasts and Beauties: Eight Tales From Europe, Duffy, Carol Ann. 2004 - an exploration of how Carol Ann Duffy handles the characters from traditional fairy tales and folk tales, and what her approach to writing lends to the psychology of the characters in the stories. Carol Ann Duffy, Rees-Jones, Deryn. 1999 - an insightful look at the many people and philosophies that have helped shape the writing and sensitivity of Carol Ann Duffy. Contemporary British and Irish Poetry, Broom, Sarah. 2006 - an examination of Carol Ann Duffy works amidst her peers. The Dramatic Monologue. Howe, Elizabeth. 1996 - an explanation of how a monologue represents different personae in vivid, realistic manner. Dreams and Visions. Fontana, David. - explanations of the inner thoughts of various personae, and the meanings and symbolism behind dreams using the ideas of traditional theorists. Feminine Gospels: Poems, 1st Ed. Duffy, Carol Ann. 2003 - a discovery of the experiences of various women, many historical, and what importance those experiences had on them and on us. Fleshweathercock and Other Poems, Duffy, Carol Ann. 1973 - Carol Ann Duffy’s published work as a teenager. It serves to show depth and growth of the writer and of her subject matter. Gendering Poetry: Contemporary Women and Men Poets, Bertram, Vicki. 2005 - Bertram explores how male and female poetry and poetic voices have been crafted and accepted over time. Hand in Hand, Duffy, Carol Ann. 2001 - the author explores the various aspects of love, as told and explained by different characters who each possess their own voice. Mean Time, Duffy, Carol Ann. 1993 - an exploration into the effects of losing some aspect of love, and how it often changes one’s perception of time. In “The Suicide”, Carol Ann Duffy uses the dramatic monologue to explore the suicidal impulses of the speaker, who is female. As readers, everything that we learn about this woman is connected to her intent on ending her own life. Duffy crafts a poem whose entirety is focused on the dark act itself, and of the darkness that has consumed the mind of the speaker, and unapologetically explores and exposes the dark, undefined determinations of a suicidal mind intent on ending it all. Modern Women Poets, Rees-Jones, Deryn. 2005 - a look at how the writings of women have finally reached a stage of recognition and respect, and a discussion on their journey. More Grimm Tales, Duffy, Carol Ann. 1997 - Duffy’s personal approach to fairy tales gives a spin to the stories’ morals and messages. Oxford Book of Sonnets, Fuller, John. 2000 - Fuller includes Duffy in his selection of best sonnets, and explores Duffy’s style amongst the others in the book. The Poetry of Carol Ann Duffy: Choosing Tough Words, Michelis, Angelica. 2003 - a discussion on how the words Carol Ann Duffy puts into the mouths of her characters influence how we feel about the real types in society. Rapture, Duffy, Carol Ann. 2005 - the latest publication that contains lengthier poems, some of which explore fantasy. Selected Poems: The Poetry of Carol Ann Duffy, Duffy, Carol Ann. 1985 - a collective study of the author’s works, characters, and approaches to writing. Selling Manhattan, Duffy, Carol Ann. 1987 - a study of the differences between the haves and the have-nots, the book explores materialism, money, privilege and how they affect people from various walks of life. In one of her poems, ”Warming Her Pearls”, Carol Ann Duffy speaks through the voice of a maid whose job is to warm her mistresses pearls by wearing them close to her own body. It is a poem of passion, desire and intense longing that explores the nature of a love that is taboo firstly because it exists between two women, and secondly because they are two women of different social classes. But by exploring the erotic space that exists between the two women, Duffy legitimizes the feelings of the maid and brings empathy to her character. Sixty Women Poets, France, Linda. 1993 - France analyzes female poets side by side, and discusses their roles and importance in literature. Standing Female Nude, Duffy, Carol Ann. 1985 - this was Duffy’s first collection, and it serves as a marker for the journey of growth she has taken as a writer and creator of characters. In one of her most shocking poems, “Education For Leisure” Duffy explores the mind of someone who is determined to commit a murder. Duffy does not tell us if the person is a man or a woman, but instead tells us critical things about their frame of mind and their emotions. We discover that the person has an inflated sense of importance, and appears to be angry that no one has taken notice of him. As readers, we are allowed to experience up close, the speaker’s disregard for life. Thrown Voices, Duffy, Carol Ann. 1986 - the book of poems that followed Female Standing Nude, and continued to reveal the differing voices and mind sets of original characters. Virago Book of Wicked Verse, Dawson, Jill. 1992 - an literary discovery of how women handle and deliver material long thought to be taboo. In another one of her poems, “Oppenheim’s Cup and Saucer”, Duffy writes of a lesbian encounter, and explores the relationship between two women that exists secretly and covertly. There is no doubt that both women are willing participants, and their act of love making is likened to a religious act through the act of passing a cup of tea. The World’s Wife, Duffy, Carol Ann. 1999 - a collection of poems that gives voice to the wives of some of the most famous male figures in history. In her poem, “Anne Hathaway”, Duffy sheds light on the wife of William Shakespeare, who had been hidden in the background for centuries. Anne describes the healthy physical relationship she shares with her husband, and Duffy depicts her as a woman happy with and fulfilled by her married life. Methodology: My approach to this project will consist of close readings of the works of Carol Ann Duffy that represent various stages of her writing career, and gathering data for this literary topic will depend mainly on analytical research from traditional library sources. Enfolded into this study will be discussions in philosophy, mythology, religion and psychology, and I will also rely on the language of the text itself to explain the message within the chosen work. To assist in the exploration of Duffy’s poetry, I will analyze the literary texts of her published works, as well as publications of those who have written about her. I will also explore her use of the dramatic monologue as a style of writing through the writings and explanations of such authors as Elizabeth A. Howe, which will help in understanding how a monologue represents different personae in vivid, realistic manner. Finally, I will explore problems of identity definition by analyzing and relying on the philosophy of Wittgenstein, of which Carol Ann Duffy is both influenced by and well-acquainted with. Chapter Outline: The outline of this research will be divided into two main chapters, each containing four sections. The first chapter will highlight the thoughts and dramatic monologue performed by the marginalized that reveals their interactions and interchanges. There are four themes that will be covered: death, childhood, disorientation, and relationships. The second chapter will explore how Duffy’s characters, mainly women, are capable of shaping their identity and giving a different and/or new explanation to their experiences, and will contain four sections covered in Duffy’s work, namely society, history, mythology, and religion. To look at the concept of death in the first section, I shall analyze poems such as “Suicide” and “ Education for Leisure” to discuss how Duffy’s characters approach their impending deaths and that of others. To look at the concept of childhood, I will do a close reading of poems such as “Before You Were Mine” and “ Mrs. Tinsdale’s Class”. To explore the concept of disorientation, I will focus on her latest work, Rapture, as well as focus on Duffy’s ability to often leave the reader disoriented, by putting her own spin on a tale, such as ‘The Red Cap”. To look at the concept of relationships, I will focus on poems like “Valentine” and “Oppenheim’s Cup and Saucer” to explore different approaches to love and to sexual taboo lust. In the second chapter, I will explore the four areas of society, history, mythology and religion by doing a close reading of “The World’s Wife”, as well as the poems, “Litany” and “Prayer”. Bibliography Bertram, Vicki. Gendering Poetry: Contemporary Women and Men Poets, Pandora: Chicago, 2005 Broom, Sarah. Contemporary British and Irish Poetry, Palgrave MacMillan: New York, 2006 Dawson, Jill. Virago Book of Wicked Verse, Virago Press: London, 1992 Duffy, Carol Ann. Beasts and Beauties: Eight Tales From Europe, Faber and Faber: London, 2004 Duffy, Carol Ann. Feminine Gospels: Poems, 1st Ed. Faber and Faber: New York, 2003 Duffy, Carol Ann. Fleshweathercock and Other Poems, Walton-on-Thames, Outposts Publications, 1973 Duffy, Carol Ann. Hand in Hand, Picador: London, 2001 Duffy, Carol Ann. Mean Time, Anvil Press Poetry: London, 1993 Duffy, Carol Ann. More Grimm Tales, Faber and Faber: London, 1997 Duffy, Carol Ann. Selected Poems: The Poetry of Carol Ann Duffy, Penguin Books: London, 1985 Duffy, Carol Ann. Rapture, Picador: London, 2005 Duffy, Carol Ann. Selling Manhattan, Anvil Press Poetry: Wolfeboro, NH, USA, 1987 Duffy, Carol Ann. Standing Female Nude Anvil Press Poetry: London, 1985 Duffy, Carol Ann. Thrown Voices, Turret: London, 1986 Duffy, Carol Ann. The World’s Wife, Picador: London, 1999 France, Linda. Sixty Women Poets, Bloodaxe Books: Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 1993 Fuller, John. Oxford Book of Sonnets, Oxford University Press: New York, 2000 Howe, Elizabeth. The Dramatic Monologue. Twayne Publishers: 1996 Michelis, Angelica. The Poetry of Carol Ann Duffy: Choosing Tough Words, Manchester University Press: New York, 2003 Rees-Jones, Deryn. Carol Ann Duffy, Northcote House: Plymouth, 1999 Rees-Jones, Deryn. Modern Women Poets, Bloodaxe: Tarset (England), 2005 Read More