Is anyone doing Carol Ann Duffy's 'The World's Wife'?

My take on Queen Herod;

Introduction;
Herod, also known as Herod the Great, was a Roman king of Judea. In Christian scripture, Herod is known for the ‘Massacre of the Innocents’, the execution of all young male children in the village of Bethlehem, so as to avoid the loss of his throne to a newborn "King of the Jews“, whose birth had been announced to him by the Three Kings.

In ‘Queen Herod’, Duffy gives a voice to someone who is not included in the Bible – she allows the feminine perspective to be heard and continues to demonstrate a backlash at the dominance of men in literature.

‘Queen Herod’ is a dramatic monologue in free verse.

Quotes and notes;

“Three Queens at the Palace gates,
Dressed in furs, accented;” - Allusion to ‘Three Kings’ (patriarchal Magi)

“Once drunken Herod’s head went back…” - The male figure is quickly ushered out of the poem when asleep – concentration on the females

“…glowed in the soft bowl of her face.” - Reference to the Nativity scene

“Grace… Strength… Happiness…” - The gifts given by the Queens are emotive as opposed to the materialistic ones given to Jesus by the Kings – Duffy could be suggesting that men are materialistic (give/given gold, frankincense and myrrh) and desire riches, whereas women need emotional connection and believe personality traits are more important.

“…with insolent lust.” - Reference to lesbianism

“…for a star in the East…” - Represents masculinity - this star originally signalled Christ’s birth in the bible, continuing Duffy’s twist on the classic story

“…pierced through the night like a nail.” - Heavy symbolism – crucifixion – presages suffering of Christ, but also suffering for the matriarchal line (as commanded by Queen H)

“Him. The Husband… Mr Right.” - Litany of male figures – repetition enforces the power of the numerous men of history

“and the black Queen scooped out my breast… to the infant’s mouth.” - Attractions of lesbianism and the power of motherhood

“No man, I swore,” - The significance and power of the three Queen’s presence is evident here as Queen Herod swears to protect the child in their company

“hawked, spat, snatched” - Sharp sibilance and harsh wording demonstrates that males are discourteous

(1)“…turbaned Queen rise like a God on the back of her beast.” - Connotations of feminine power and sexuality
(2)“…splayed that night below Herod’s fusty bulk…” - Herod is given no dignity – Queen H takes no pleasure in sex; female subjugation – could also demonstrate how she feels trapped by masculine dominance
Contrast between quotes (1) and (2) – the three Queens have power in their sexuality but Queen Herod does not

“I saw the fierce eyes of the black Queen flash again, felt her urgent warnings scald my ear. Watch for a star, a star.” – repetition; also, the experience fuels hatred of masculinity – the warning of the star haunts/obsesses Queen Herod. Personification enforces the effect the had meeting on Queen Herod ("warnings scald")

“Some swaggering lad… some wincing Prince to take her name away…” - Anaphora of ‘some’ conveys Queen Herod’s scorn for men – they’re all the same. Assonance in ‘wincing Prince’ also reveals scorn. Queen Herod fears for the continuation of the matriarchal line – her daughter will lose her identity/become a man’s possession.

“Take men and horses…kill each mother’s son. Do it. Spare not one.” - Queen Herod previously felt trapped by her husband – now she gives commands and takes on a more masculine role – demonstrates feminine power. Duffy changes the story – Herod’s motives are replaced by his wife’s – Queen H commands the massacre of the male children to protect her daughter from exploitation. Queen H fears the loss of female power, symbolised by her daughter’s potential domination by patriarchy.

“blatant, brazen, buoyant in the East… The Boyfriend’s Star.” - Duffy may be referring to the patriarchal gender roles of the Christian church – women are denied equal roles/authority but in the poem, they are presented as bold, fierce and as brutal as any man. Alliteration instils imagery of the star.

Hope these are useful

I have some interesting notes on some of the poems if you would like me to post them please ask if not then i won't because there is quite alot.

Wow I thought they had stopped doing the syllabus with 'The World's Wife' on it! How do you like the other poems?? I love the whole anthology!