Carol Ann Duffy, The World's Wife Review

Overall Rating

Displays the importance of learning to calmly and logically deconstructing logical fallacies as to prevent their future growth and reduce the hypocrisy of one's fellow man.

Has the potential to absorb and destroy all knowledge in existence regarding social progress and humanitarianism: a vortex in which moderation does not exist and the rules of civilization are broken down into savage free-for-all ruled by tyrannous 'intellectuals' like Ms Duffy.

Ms Duffy appears to live an intellectual bubble the size of a small cupboard in which the non-existent quintessence of femininity is the single most precious thing in the entire universe; which must at all costs be protected from hedonistic behemoths called "men". The only exceptions to this appear to be William Shakespeare (See the only good poem in the book, Anne Hathaway) and the corporeal incarnation of the almighty (See the typically depressing poem Pilate's Wife) - which literally demonstrate Ms Duffy's use of double standards when comparing the virtues of men and women. 'Double' is perhaps insufficient; as the only men worthy of respect and/or existence in the "Duffy bubble" are the greatest playwright in history and Jesus Christ. Ms Duffy clearly has no knowledge or understanding of the greater forces at work in the universe (namely the statistical insignificance that all women and virtuous and all men are not); nor any comprehension of the patheticness of her ideals when compared to the boundless potential of humanity or the true span of the universe. In the face of mankind's potential to, through technological prowess, achieve such immense power and wisdom as to be greater than gods; Ms Duffy chooses to reign supreme over an imaginary land fuelled by male serfs and deprived of the social progresses made from the late nineteen sixties onwards. Even more frustrating is her general lack of literary skill and the heavy handed way she goes about spreading this extraordinarily restricted world view. The one good thing that can POSSIBLY be said about this vision of an apocalyptic wasteland bereft of intelligence of tolerance is that it has the power to reveal to a select view the importance of refusing to tolerate it, as well as other, similar poxes. For example; it immunizes one against a sudden increase of nationalist or bigoted sentiments in the near future. Should someone attempt to establish a fourth reich within my lifetime I would personally take up arms against them; all thanks to the infuriating stupidity of this second rate author.

Members' Comments onDutchcourage's Review

• bigmoomin on 16th Apr 2008

  Oooooh someone's closed minded. You say nothing about the negative portrayal of women in some of the poems, and how in a few of them the reader can sympathise with the male character. As I see it, The Worlds Wife takes a different view on things that are taken for granted in a patriarchal world. I can see your point that a lot of the poems have feminist views and at first glance it could be taken that Duffy is trying to tell us that some men are scum. In order to read poetry however, you have to be prepared not to take everything at face value, fair enough if your view on these poems happens to be a negative one, we all take things different ways, but doesn't that say something about your own personality. If you are so concerned with men being in a bad light then surely you should disprove your theory in an unaggresive, neutral manner?

• Dutchcourage on 11th May 2008

  A potentially valid point; however my case is simply this; Duffy is hugely overcompensating for a subjugation that ended two generations ago; spreading forth the message that it's okay to kill and humiliate because of some long dead grievance. The "negative" portrayals of women in WW do indeed include murderers and sociopaths - but they are always shown as victims of male corruption. A woman's lust is shown as totally natural while a man's is shown as moral rot. Perhaps Duffy would have been a force for good in the fifties; but is now ranting about a closed topic. Sexism, just like all forms of discrimination in the west, can now only be found in a small number of universally hated people. Terms like "patriarchal world" completely obsolete - In this day and age there are FAR bigger problems in the world than men not realizing that they are scum. Also, in response to your claim that I am narrow minded - I put it to you that my objection to the book is that it promotes tribalism, huddling into little groups and refusing to mingle with outsiders. Humanity outgrew narrow-mindedness of that sort in the renaissance; an achievement that seems all too keen on undoing.

• RachreadsWilliam Blake on 27th Oct 2008

  Evidentally Duffy isn't the only one who rants about closed topics!

• poetictemptress on 1st Dec 2008

  To the above who believes in the "Duffy bubble".
  Clearly you are not in such a position to be handing out the criticism. Carol Ann Duffy is not the most talented writer and has destroyed the effect of enjambement. However, she has succeeded where few will in effectively portraying a woman's view on the world. Is this so wrong? Or do you, as a clearly practising Neanderthal, believe that men should be the only true heros of this world? In my recent studies of Duffy for a disseration, I have come to the conclusion that yes, they are heavily leant towards strong feministic views, but that there are few poets who manage to capture the feelings of many women in a few lines. Take "Pilate's Wife" for example, a personal favourite of mine. Does she not sympathise with all bored housewives who dream of, but never act upon, desires for a better life? You suggest that she is offensive to Chritianity. Why should she tread on egg shells for a religion she dismissed as a teenager? Are we not all allowed to form our own opinions upon such matters? I personally feel she is sympathetic towards the Nazarene as she admires him not because he is an apparant holy man, but because of his charisma, his ability to hold a room and for his experiences in life.