AS Carol Ann Duffy Delilah Analysis

Hi guys,
I was wondering if anyone had any analysis on Duffy's Delilah from the World's Wife collection. I have the basic understanding but just wanted some deeper meanings.
I would really appreciated some help, thankyou x :smile:

Reply 1

lyddi

The poem Delilah is a subversion from the biblical original. Instead of Delilah cutting Samsons hair for her own selfish monetary gain, she is showing him compassion so that he doesn't have to uphold a masculine exterior. There is a change in the mood of the poem when Delilah states, 'he ****ed me again,' Immediately after their sexual encounter he turns into a man that 'snores' suggesting that he is slumpish and objectified Delilah for his own sexual needs. Maybe there is some sort of vengefulness when he cuts her hair because she is achieving a sense of justice in return for being used. When he has become week, he can no longer objectify her in the same way. This could be a metaphor for all men in society, suggesting that if women weren't passive and were given a voice, they would be less sexualised and advocated a specific role because of their gender. This builds on the 1990 new man idea, an ideology that men should fulfil a domestic role in a heterosexual relationship so that more equality can be created.