Carol Ann Duffy, The World's Wife Reviews
Summary
''That saying? Behind every famous man . . . ? From Mrs Midas to Queen Kong, from Elvis’s twin sister to Pygmalion’s bride, they’re all here, in Carol Ann Duffy’s inspired and inspirational collection, The World’s Wife. Witty and thought-provoking, this is a tongue-in-cheek, no-holds-barred look at the real movers and shakers across history, myth and legend. If you have ever wondered, for example, how exactly Darwin came up with his theory of evolution, or what, precisely, Frau Freud thought about her husband – then this is the book for you, as the wives of the great, the good, the not so good, and the legendary are given a voice in Carol Ann Duffy’s sparkling and inventive collection.''
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Latest Reviews
“Although her sexism towards men annoys me at times i...”
Written on: 24/01/2011
Although her sexism towards men annoys me at times i enjoyed many of the poems Carol Ann Duffy has put together in this book! I LOVED "Mrs Darwin"- very funny and witty! (read more)
“Hmm Cannot believe how people don't like Pope Joan. In...”
Written on: 16/10/2010
Hmm Cannot believe how people don't like Pope Joan. In fact this is my favourite poem out of the whole collection. Im sure youll have to be a woman to truly love it's significance and it's message.
Isnt it ironic how some men don't like the poem Pope Joan?
But overall any sex can enjoy any of the poems in the great collection. Lets stop being so harsh, she can write poems better than any of us can!
(read more)
“Absolutely horrendous. A terrible collection by a...”
Written on: 01/06/2010
Absolutely horrendous. A terrible collection by a terrible poet who makes me angry just looking at the vile book. Though its not fair to suggest it is a complete attack on men, it is safe to say its pretty damn close. Deeper analysis may reveal a mixed view on the sexes but i deeply suggest you don't even bother. (read more)
“A Review of "The World's Wife" by Carol Anne...”
Written on: 19/05/2010
A Review of "The World's Wife" by Carol Anne Duffy Adderson Hawdon The world's wife is an anthology of poems that subvert the meanings of stories throughout history bringing in female perspectives of male lead stories, or empowering the female protagonists to a much higher status. The anthology is very feminist with all women poems, all of them making choices and breaking away from the male dominant culture to create their own counter culture of strong females in order to break the... (read more)
“I had previously disliked her work, but upon reading...”
Written on: 10/04/2010
I had previously disliked her work, but upon reading these poems I found that I liked her works very much. Some of the poems are a little slow to read, but others are very witty and take an interesting view on men of the world. My favourite poem was Mrs Aesop, a very witty and sexy poem which tells of the famous fable writers wife's view on his work. I recommend this book to anybody who likes her work, poetry and humourous light reading. (read more)
“THATS ALL I CAN SAY.. WAYYYYYYYYYYYY TO EXPLICIT FOR...”
Written on: 01/03/2010
THATS ALL I CAN SAY.. WAYYYYYYYYYYYY TO EXPLICIT FOR GCSE/A LEVEL REALLLLLLLLLLLLLLY BIASED TOWARDS MALES !! SPITEFUL WOMAN WITH NOOOOOOOOOOOO TALENT ... (read more)
Cates's Comment
Written on: 28/03/2010
that's rediculous, as an A level student I have much enjoyed the work of Carol Ann Duffy, and must comment that she is very talented, and the person that wrote the concerned review must be a male protecting his ego.
<br/>Get over it, she's a good author and voices the thoughts and concerns of the majority women.
<br/>
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Guest's Comment
Written on: 13/05/2012
It takes an open mind to see the ambiguity in her collection. It's not completly biased towards men, and by analysing the collection as a-level students you tend to notice this.
I'm afraid it appears you have a closed frame of mind :)
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“ Carol Ann Duffy's The World's Wife explores the...”
Written on: 04/08/2009 by Janet Lewison (43 reviews written)
Carol Ann Duffy's The World's Wife explores the finitude and silences of romantic love narratives. The Collection's glittering monologues testify to the pathos and irony of 'enduring' affection, particularly marital affection, which historically and culturally have dispossessed women of their identity and speech. The reader's journey through Duffy's World's Wife is witty, uncomfortable and liberating. And then finally, just when we have become acclimatised to a 'worldly' acceptance of... (read more)
“The World's Wife by Carol Ann Duffy focuses on...”
Written on: 29/04/2009
The World's Wife by Carol Ann Duffy focuses on important socio-political issues of the 1950's and is engaging, moving and witty. Not many authors would consider giving the important women in a man's life a voice when in fact, they could have been the brains behind the actions! However, are we still living in the 1950's? and should there be some form of masculine/male dominated movement.? After all, there is some sexism towards men. (read more)
“Many have touched upon the concept that Duffy's...”
Written on: 02/04/2009 by leach1991
Many have touched upon the concept that Duffy's messages are somewhat obvious and condescending in their simplicity- however, this is the pinaccle of the antithesis! I find it refreshing to read poetry freed from pretentious double-sided enigmas and ambiguity, and instead to read a poem for what it is, and to form judgements from a straightforward, non-subjective narrative. Duffy chooses to communicate with her audience instead of attempting to baffle them with mysterious references and... (read more)
“This book (The World's Wife) is certainly to be...”
Written on: 11/03/2009 by callumbarlow
This book (The World's Wife) is certainly to be avoided. It's constant battle and disparaging terms towards men are not only unpleasent to read, they also border on sexism. (read more)
Cates's Response to 446963_callumbarlow's Review
Written on: 28/03/2010
oh please... women have had to deal with sexism for a LONG time
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Guest's Response to 446963_callumbarlow's Review
Written on: 15/12/2011
Border on sexism? It's not even close. I would agree that yes most of the characters portrayed are exaggerated but they are not grouped, which is what would make it sexist as then it would be saying that all men are like this but these poems are incredible in the way that they seperate men and women to be individual's. Oh and it's not only men that are portrayed as bad, women are also shown as evil, insane AND emotionally belligerent.
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Showing 1 - 10 of 40 Reviews
“I am studying The World#s wife by Carol Ann Duffy for...”
Written on: 26/01/2009 by Sam J Quigley (1 review written)
I am studying The World#s wife by Carol Ann Duffy for A level at the moment and i really like the witty humor and the distasteful "slagging off" of men and I'm male which makes it odd i suppose. People are asking if the is derogatory to men which i reply to as "depends on how insecure you are" it is disrespectful to men in some parts but its disrespect is matched by its humor because i find them rather funny. If you enjoy a light read, as most of the poems are a maximum of 2 pages long, and... (read more)
“Delightful and different, with provocative...”
Written on: 02/10/2008
Delightful and different, with provocative half-rhymes. However, if you are not a fan of poetry, this book would appeal to you equally: the humor and slight distortion of reality and myth alike set in a conversational, colloquial tone render the poetry equivalent to Calvin and hobbes-esque humor. Subtle, yet satisfying. The feminist message is present but never too extreme: instead it focuses on providing perspective, which is often more important than pushing for political and social... (read more)
“'The World's Wife' raises the dead and the silent -...”
Written on: 08/09/2008 by Janet Lewison (43 reviews written)
'The World's Wife' raises the dead and the silent - historical and mythic all female charcters find the words and the voices with which to revise the familiar. These new dramatic monologues give birth to refreshing and at times disturbing versions of 'realities'. Carol Ann Duffy is fascinated by resurrrection in many forms: linguistic, sexual, spiritual.
Oddly enough, these monologues are also love stories. Love may have gone wrong, may have become compromised, but tenderness lingers, even...
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“I would disagree with the reading that many have taken...”
Written on: 20/05/2008
I would disagree with the reading that many have taken from Carol Ann Duffy's work that it is excessive or extremist feminism. Anne Hathaway, for one, stands out from the collection as overwhelmingly positive in its depiction of Shakespeare, even submissive to his authority. Some of the apparently negative views of men presented in poems such as Queen Herod or the domination of the female sex as presented in Salome are condemned by association with their voice as an amoral or deranged... (read more)
Dutchcourage's Comment
Written on: 21/10/2008
Retaliation is not something to be glorified - when two belligerents attack each other in turn, regardless of the reason or the source or blame, it is called a war. If Duffy truly wants equality and harmony, this is not the way to go about it.
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Guest's Comment
Written on: 15/12/2011
Duffy does not just shows the awful male dominance. In Queen Herod the context needs to be taken in to account as not only was the original story alot mor sexist towards men the new female characterised story shows how women can be just as bad as men by the mother being so psychotic about men. So the message is not a bad one but rather one that could be understood as an improvement on the old one because the men and women are portrayed as both evil and prejudice.
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“I definately enjoyed studying it, despite the strong...”
Written on: 13/04/2008
I definately enjoyed studying it, despite the strong sexist and feminist views (read more)
“Ms Duffy appears to live an intellectual bubble the...”
Written on: 06/04/2008 by Dutchcourage (7 reviews written)
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... (read more)
Bigmoomin's Response to Dutchcourage's Review
Written on: 16/04/2008
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?
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Dutchcourage's Response to Dutchcourage's Review
Written on: 11/05/2008
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.
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413121_Rachreadswilliam Blake's Response to Dutchcourage's Review
Written on: 27/10/2008
Evidentally Duffy isn't the only one who rants about closed topics!
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422028_Poetictemptress's Response to Dutchcourage's Review
Written on: 01/12/2008
To the above who believes in the "Duffy bubble".
<br/>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.
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“Carol Ann Duffy, The World's Wife is awful. Like an...”
Written on: 29/03/2008
Carol Ann Duffy, The World's Wife is awful. Like an apple that has sat, ugly and squat, in the fruit bowl since last july, Carol's poetry will leave a disgraceful taste in your mouth. Not only this, much like the withered fruit in the analogy, the poetry seems to attract stunted, blood-sucking weevils; (read more)
Jienii's Comment
Written on: 27/06/2009
I think too many people are reading too much into the feminist views, for one feminism isn't just about hating men. Maybe, just maybe, Duffy is offering an alternative view on famous male figures in legends and reality alike, and is cleverly rewriting mythology in a modern context at the same time. Most of the poems are very tongue-in-cheek. Also, I think men are being offended by the way that the males are portrayed as being weak and useless, when throughout our lives women have been talked about in that way. The male stereotypes are more to be laughed at. Also, people are just looking at the male stereotypes, the women in the poems are being just as stereotyped. In Mrs Midas for example, the woman is clearly being shown as bitter and angry towards her husband, and throughout only seems to be thinking of herself and not really offering her husband much in the way of pity.
<br/>Just try to look at the poems putting feminism aside, and actually look at how cleverly they've been writen.
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“The Worlds Wife poems are inventive, complexed and...”
Written on: 16/03/2008 by gibbonjake7
The Worlds Wife poems are inventive, complexed and overall expressing of the females to the strong males powers in history and myths, I love reading them and they create visual images in ones mind. (read more)
“The fact that this book gives women voices says it...”
Written on: 25/02/2008
The fact that this book gives women voices says it all, i am studying this book and think that Duffy is extremely talented, creating pieces of poetry with meanings and laughter.
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“I am currently studying The Worlds Wife at A level...”
Written on: 19/02/2008
I am currently studying The Worlds Wife at A level Literature. I also studied Duffy at GCSE level and adored her poems. The book is comical and gives a voice to women who were not heard, however, at some times it can be too over powering with feministic views. Some of the poems drag on, but overall, a good read. (read more)
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Showing 11 - 20 of 40 Reviews
“I loved this book that i am studying for my a levels,...”
Written on: 11/02/2008
I loved this book that i am studying for my a levels, the comments that she makes I don't think are too much, i believe they are enough to make people laugh, and she uses the language she does for a reason.
I think it is great that the voices of unheard women are finally coming out.
Brilliant.
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“I found this book to be extremely good. I was...”
Written on: 23/01/2008
I found this book to be extremely good. I was astounded to find that there were actually poems with the iridescent pages of the covers. I nearly came to fruition when i read Mrs. Darwin as it is an excellent portrayal of the male gender. As there is not a particularly evident evolution from our days as monkeys. Women have always been the leading gender and long may feminism rule over our land, I LOVE CAROL ANN DUFFY!!!!!!!!! (read more)
“I am currently studying these poems for a-level and...”
Written on: 10/01/2008 by mystiquelol (1 review written)
I am currently studying these poems for a-level and the first one we did was Frau Freud - what a way to start!
I am finding it delightfully exhilarating and so incredibly rich and vivid, and her choice of words are just perfect. (read more)
“Carol Ann Duffy, The World's Wife is fairly flimsy and...”
Written on: 23/11/2007 by ilikeit
Carol Ann Duffy, The World's Wife is fairly flimsy and pages become detached easily. Paper use inside gets 'bitty' when rubbed. (read more)
Bigmoomin's Response to 326554_ilikeit's Review
Written on: 16/04/2008
I just picked my copy up by one page inside and jiggled it a bit and it didn't come out. I also carried out some vigorous rubbing and quite frankly the paper looks shinier. However the overall appearance of the book does look a bit used and the spine has got that crinkly thing going on, but that's my fault really for not laminating every inch of this book... Oh well, tis a good read.
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“I am a student studying worlds wife for A-level. ”
Written on: 07/11/2007 by propersweeti00
I am a student studying worlds wife for A-level.
I absolutely love this book, the range of poems is amazing, the poems are very humorous and easy to read and understand, and its not feminist, everything she makes men out to be is true!
I love her poems and I think she is an amazing writer.
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“Overall Carol Ann Duffy, The World's Wife collection...”
Written on: 24/10/2007 by sjg6488 (1 review written)
Overall Carol Ann Duffy, The World's Wife collection is a gambit of human experience. As much as it relates most closely to women its points about humanity resonate for both sexes. The brutality and the touching sentiment of people are fused. The fall of innocence is sublimely illustrated while Duffy, seemingly without political malice or great vitriol, paints a portrait of women, not as dominant, but equal. In my opinion The World's Wife is a text that balances the scales between the sexes... (read more)
“Stay well away from Carol Ann Duffy! In trying to gain...”
Written on: 18/05/2007 by mali00
Stay well away from Carol Ann Duffy! In trying to gain recognition she tries pathetically to be controversial. For someone who has a degree in philosophy she lacks real intelligence and depth. (read more)
“A lot of fuss has been made of Duffy's 'The world's...”
Written on: 10/05/2007 by Solitude (3 reviews written)
A lot of fuss has been made of Duffy's 'The world's wife'. Is it too sexually explicit to teach teenagers at A level? Is it sexist against men? Is Duffy really as bad as the poems make out?
I think people asking these questions are missing the point, they seem to have completely failed to see that it doesn't matter because her work is awful.
Verses and stanzas are arranged pretentiously, enjambment is milked dry, full stops and punctuation are like oasis's in a desert in this collection....
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Cognition's Response to Solitude's Review
Written on: 11/05/2007
Not Carol Ann Duffy; we're studying her work at GCSE and it's nothing special at all.
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Argreco1's Response to Solitude's Review
Written on: 10/06/2007
I actually really enjoyed this collection and I am studying it at A level at the moment. Carol Ann Duffy proves that she has an original talent for word play and her use of tone of voice makes her one of the best poets of our time. My favourite poem has to be Queen Kong in this collection along with Mrs Midas - both are feminist yet not too harsh towards men! However, I absolutely loathe Mrs Aesop - it literally sets out to castrate all men and strip away masculine strength.
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Dutchcourage's Response to Solitude's Review
Written on: 06/04/2008
Well said. Ms Duffy began with a potentially excellent way of restoring social balance between genders and paving the way for a more open and tolerate society; but through a strict regime of reusing low-quality literary techniques and warping progressive sentiments into mindless rants she has rendered this book unreadable. I consider hatred of this book to be an excellent indicator of intelligence and sympathy toward mankind.
(That is not necessarily to say Duffy fans are stupid or misanthropic, which would actually reflect much of Ms Duffy's own opinions).
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360773_Vixylixxx's Response to Solitude's Review
Written on: 20/04/2008
I believe that this is a very inspiring set of Poems. For my A level coursework I have transformed a handful of these poems into a playscript, and to really see her attitudes and values in the piece is to extract the material and interpret it differently, as I have done. Many of her points are really vivid with wonderfully vivid description throughout many of her poems. Even though she may be considered feminist, this is only one of her collections, based on the spouses' and lovers' of great historical men, and her other collections should never be turned down because of any preassumptions from this collection.
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Poetrylover's Response to Solitude's Review
Written on: 06/05/2009
Carol Ann Duffy has a lot in common with John Prescott - she is full of bitter and pointless anger.
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“Everyone seems to accept this attrocity with the...”
Written on: 10/04/2007 by therise (1 review written)
Everyone seems to accept this attrocity with the justification that it is a feminist work. People need to pick up the dictionary and find out what feminism means. It is the aim of attaining equal status to men. Insulting men and trying to degrade them is sexist, not feminist. In fact this collection is an insult to English literature. There is no skill to Duffy's work, she is a talentless poet who is desperately using controversy to obtain recognition. It pains me to see the noble and... (read more)
Dutchcourage's Response to therise's Review
Written on: 06/04/2008
I have never in my life read a review with which I agree more. You have my eternal thanks for reminding me than not everyone in the world is absolutely insane and will accept any opinion thrown in their faces regardless of how inconsistent or absurd it is. You have single handedly restored my faith in humanity; at least as far as AS level english literature students are concerned.
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Claire365's Response to therise's Review
Written on: 20/04/2008
Whilst I agree that some of Duffy's sentiments are somewhat rabidly feminist, it would be unfair to criticise her because of this - her views do not detract from her skill as a poet, however much people disagree with them. Her use of rhetoric is magnificent, and let us not forget that misogynistic works have historically been much more commonplace (and accepted).
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“I love the variety of poems, from sharp, witty...”
Written on: 15/03/2007 by Scaryclairey (1 review written)
I love the variety of poems, from sharp, witty one-liners to pages of eloquent, almost prose-like stanzas. Duffy portrays stereotypical views on feminism in interesting and insightful ways, and I hope to read much more of her brilliant work. (read more)
Dutchcourage's Response to Scaryclairey's Review
Written on: 06/04/2008
"Good Points<br/>I admired Duffy's strong and, at times, controversial views on the women who have been traditionally overshadowed by their husbands." OF COURSE the women in these poems were overshadowed by their husbands! Duffy deliberate chooses to study women who are ignored or despised because it makes it easier to portray women as victims. The women in Duffy's poems are the significant others of: a king with the power of alchemy, a clairvoyant, the man who sentenced the messiah to death, an extremely famous author, the discoverer of EVOLUTION, an immensely powerful wizard, A legendary warrior, SHAKESPEARE, a fifty foot tall gorilla, a man brought back from death, a man who went into a two decade coma, a man who was briefly able to fly, the founder of psychoanalysis, john the baptist, a musician who made gods cry and ODYSSEUS. When your only claim to fame is association is someone like that its understandable if no one cares about you. Duffy appears to ignore all the women in history who were famous and successful in their own right purely because it would weaken her case that men are scum and must be exterminated. If there was a poem about the immense achievements of Helen of Troy or Marie Curie it wouldn't be anywhere near as sensational - perhaps because they actually were examples of gender equality and Duffy doesn't want that; she wants a sub race of male slaves of build her neo-fascist "utopia" accessible only to militant feminists with no intention of making the world a better place. If you must subscribe to feminism and not to a more universal philosophy like egalitarianism, at least make sure not to wander into the domain of rabid maniacs like Duffy; she simply is not worth your time.
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408956_Anvisha's Response to Scaryclairey's Review
Written on: 12/10/2008
The whole intention of Duffy's poetry is to give a voice to the unheard. Lets hold back that egalitarianism or feminism for a moment and look into the essence of the poetry: Mrs Midas is portrayed, her tragedy is explored. Why? Not because Duffy wants to prove her superiority. But because she wants to provide us with perspective. That is the point of all literature, perspective. By writing about the much-sung heroines of history Duffy is not giving us that insight, that much-needed perspective. By portraying the other side of the spectrum she is trying to show that the women are sometimes no less than the men. It is mere coincidence that they happen to be the wives of the famous. Their struggles epitomize those that average women face, call it an extended metaphor if you will.<br/><br/>One of the major tenets of feminism lies in the revival of literary texts through a female point of view: that's simply what Duffy is furthering! Instead of criticizing a poet, why dont you criticize feminism in general? I believe that her poetry might not be conclusive in the sense provide us with a concrete solution to the issues that plague the female race. But they do focus on providing an alternative to the male-dominated literature that is still prevalent: if you've ever read Virginia Woolf you would know that "In a room of ones own" she spoke about the male-dominated features of language. Duffy doesn't seek to convey a serious message through her poems: she focuses on embodying that female focus, those images that define feminism, the language that conveys womanhood, the emotions that women grapple with.<br/><br/>As for why she speaks about the wives of gorillas, mavericks and more: you could call it humor. I don't know about the fervent commentator above me, but I'd call it quite amusing.
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Dutchcourage's Response to Scaryclairey's Review
Written on: 21/10/2008
I assure you it is not mere incidence that this book is focused on the wives of the famous - nor is it a coincidence that it is called "the world's wife"; as opposed to "a collection of feminist poetry". Most people who have read the book (or even know of its existence) will present the belief that the title is an attempt at subversion - tying in with the poems' function of reversing male-female dominance. This is a perfectly reasonable intention - but Duffy takes it far beyond any sense of scale and batters the reader around the head with it. As for the humour comment; all I can say is that some people find Jim Davidson amusing - very few others agree.<br/>
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Showing 21 - 30 of 40 Reviews
“Some people would call this too feministic, but to me...”
Written on: 09/12/2006 by Acatia (3 reviews written)
Some people would call this too feministic, but to me we have here the perfect representation of a variety of women; the oppressed, the loveless, the angry, the downtrodden, the intelligent, the amusing and the hard done by.
I started studying Carol Ann Duffy's poems in 2005 for my GCSE literature paper, reading such poems as Education for Leisure (a personal favourite) and Elvis' Twin Sister. I fell in love with her style at once! My teacher suggested that I read the World's Wife and I was...
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“I love Carol Ann Duffy's poems. I would recommend The...”
Written on: 22/05/2006 by hayley89 (1 review written)
I love Carol Ann Duffy's poems. I would recommend The World's Wife to anyone it's full of humour and gives people a better understanding of the word feminism. I love this collection (read more)
“Don't buy Carol Ann Duffy, The World's Wife. If you...”
Written on: 05/05/2006 by Daedra66 (1 review written)
Don't buy Carol Ann Duffy, The World's Wife. If you get it as a gift, shoot the giver, take it back and burn down the book store. What she writes can often be extreme and insulting. In almost all of her poems she assumes the worst of men, portraying possibly the most horrible of stereotypes. Her poems are often frankly disgusting, including various referneces to bestiality and only a single reference to sex as something other than a traumatic experience.
Thank you for you time. I hope I...
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Loz7's Response to Daedra66's Review
Written on: 15/05/2006
I read this book for A level. It was one of those books that i didn't have a choice in the matter about but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I love her style of writing and her unstructured way of ryhming. I love the tone of her poetry. I often don't enjoy books and novels that have been forced upon me through education. I prefer to make my own choices but this was one of the few exceptions. To read the book would be a pleasure not a misery.
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Washyourswollenfeet's Response to Daedra66's Review
Written on: 01/06/2006
Through her poems the view you get of men is often a negative one, however there is also the negative side of females. Just because Duffy creates a stereotype in this way does not mean she agrees with it, her poetry is fictional and through the make belief she can explore a side of life that people are often afraid to look to closely at. This collection mixes the comical with the serious in a brilliant way and i recommend it, even if you find some of the poems insulting you will also learn a lot from them.
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Stevenson's Response to Daedra66's Review
Written on: 08/11/2006
I totally disagree with that statement! Carol Ann Duffy is brilliant! She makes the poem's come to life!! She does not only slate men; she also mentions women, such as Mrs Beast, which I am studying at school. The poems are hilarious and have a fantastic sense of humour. I would recommend it to any one that wants a good poetry book which will make them chuckle. I am studying Carol Ann Duffy for my A levels, and I think The World's Wife is a very good book. Even the lads in my class think it's a brilliant poetry book. They take no offence to it whatsoever. I think you have to not take the poems to heart and have a sense of humour to read them!! I back Carol Ann Duffy all the way!!
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<br/>From Megan x I would encourage people to buy it!!!
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Daedra66's Response to Daedra66's Review
Written on: 06/12/2006
lol, im just messing with you guys. Was a good series of works, and more importantly it got me an A. Good points as well guys, your arguments were well structured and thought out, I thank you for you opinions. *bows*
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Therise's Response to Daedra66's Review
Written on: 10/04/2007
Well said. Th Worlds Wife is not even worthy of being called literature. Carol Ann Duffy is not a poet. Simple as that.
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Dutchcourage's Response to Daedra66's Review
Written on: 06/04/2008
Were you part of my AS course on this book, it may have been far more tolerable. Being the only person in a room who fully appreciates the appalling narrow-mindedness of this woman for five hours a week is unbearable.
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“Carol Ann Duffy displays with immense wit her feminism...”
Written on: 23/03/2006 by koolkat123uk (1 review written)
Carol Ann Duffy displays with immense wit her feminism in this collection 'The Worlds Wife'. I really enjoyed reading her interpretations of the many biblical, mythological and folk tales she has used because I think her ideas are worthwhile to read. Yes, they are at times far-fetched, but overall an excellent read and really fun to get this controversial view of these famous stories. However, definitely have some background knowledge of the stories her poems are based on before reading... (read more)
“I absolutely love Carol Ann Duffy's collection in The...”
Written on: 31/10/2005 by gemz
I absolutely love Carol Ann Duffy's collection in The Worlds Wife. I especially loved the poems "Mrs Beast", "Frau Freud", "Devil's Wife" and "Medusa". I really admire how the poet speaks her mind within the wives of mythological, fictional, factual and biblical characters, and the feminism is so strong that I love it. It is good to read female poets who write like Carol Ann Duffy does. There are not a lot of poets like Carol Ann Duffy, and that's why I love the collection so much.
However,...
(read more)
Dutchcourage's Response to 215548_gemz's Review
Written on: 06/04/2008
Does Ms Duffy's use of archaic legends and children's stories to put forward her points not suggest that she should not be taken seriously? All of Duffy's points appear to occupy a bubble universe in which femininity is the single most precious thing that ever has or ever will exist.
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“I truly loved Carol Ann Duffy, The World's Wife...”
Written on: 24/05/2005 by nimi
I truly loved Carol Ann Duffy, The World's Wife because it was very realistic. And for all of those people who say it is feminist I also feel it is anti-femenist in the sense that the traditional view of feminism is being condemed. You do not need to act like a man (Kray Sisters) to be a feminist. It is important to be a womanly feminist. It also puts much emphasis on women sticking together in its tone. For example, Frau Freud begins "Ladies" which is showing the poem is directly being... (read more)
Daedra66's Response to 194643_nimi's Review
Written on: 05/05/2006
OK I see your points, but it's more than just meant to cause girls to giggle. It's trying to turn girls AGAINST guys. There is only one reference to sex as being anything other than a trauma in this collection. Duffy puts forward several of the harsh stereotypes that are associated with men and also undermines males generally, for example Frau Freud. Her attacks at men are aimed to cause serious insult and bearing in mind the fact that Duffy criticises hetrosexual relationships is out of line, considerimg her own sexual orientation. However, Duffy is a skilled and established poet, and although I find her hugely offensive, I can't deny her genius with technique.
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“I am reading Carol Ann Duffy, The World's Wife for my...”
Written on: 10/05/2005 by samina (1 review written)
I am reading Carol Ann Duffy, The World's Wife for my A level - Lively and full of witty comments and humour Duffy brings out the voice of women in myth, however it can be too unrealistic, sometimes I can feel sick with the dirty comments and feel that the poet is too extreme. (read more)
Daedra66's Response to samina's Review
Written on: 05/05/2006
I utterly agree. Her extreme feminist views can sometimes engulf the intent of the poem, and cause insult aswell :D
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“Carol Ann Duffy's collection, The World's Wife has a...”
Written on: 02/06/2004 by rimpz (1 review written)
Carol Ann Duffy's collection, The World's Wife has a lot going for it, there's a lot of enlightening views and I particularly like the way in which Duffy has modernised traditional myths. Poems that I enjoyed most were Demeter, Mrs faust, Queen Kong and The Devils Wife. However...there is always a however and this is it. I'm sure most of those who have read it will agree with me that it's extreme to the point that is not even funny after a while. I'm sure we all love the odd gender joke but... (read more)
Fantomphreak's Response to rimpz's Review
Written on: 20/05/2005
I agree, 'finds a good joke and tells it over and over again,' sums it up nicely.
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215548_Gemz's Response to rimpz's Review
Written on: 31/10/2005
Well, no offence or nothing, but I have to disagree that it is "too feminist" because Carol Ann Duffy is known in her poetry and literature to be a feminist writer. So, you would find a lot of feminist content in her work.
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Jigarake Pars's Response to rimpz's Review
Written on: 15/12/2008
I disagree with this review because... as a strong feminist i think it's about time someone spoke up and the poems are emphasised dromatically but this has more effect as people understand how females have been a victim of patriarchal society!
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“I think that The World's Wife collection by Carol Ann...”
Written on: 10/03/2004 by kai11 (1 review written)
I think that The World's Wife collection by Carol Ann Duffy is quite good and we are doing it at the moment in my English Lit class. Her ideas might be a bit over the top but so often women have been seen as being inferior to men (even now in the 21st century) and have not gotten enough credit and I think Duffy just wants to involve the women and makes sure that their voice is heard. (read more)
“Carol Ann Duffy's The World's Wife is pants. We read...”
Written on: 25/02/2004 by me and her
Carol Ann Duffy's The World's Wife is pants. We read it in english lit and i would not recomend it to my worst enemy!! especialy "pope joan"!! (read more)
145747_N Bennett's Response to 145084_me and her's Review
Written on: 01/03/2004
I cannot begin to imagine what this reviewer is doing in an English Literature class. Another lazy kid who thinks English is the easy option, no doubt, and starting to panic at the realisation that they are completely out of their depth.
<br>
<br>Oh well, ignorance is bliss I'm told.
<br>
<br>The World's Wife is sly, clever, pithy, very funny, sometimes very thought - provoking and scary. Somehow it manages to be both erudite and accessible. Smashing stuff.
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Elizanna's Response to 145084_me and her's Review
Written on: 09/09/2004
The World's Wife, particularly seen in Mrs Beast is an ode to man-hating. Duffy tries to appeal to those who wish to appear mature by not being offended by the taboo subjects used. Her poetic style is cheap and unoriginal. Reversing sexism is no way to fight it. If a man had written such an anti-feminist story, he'd be finished.
<br>
<br>We are also studying for AS and do not like our intelligence being insulted in this way. Everyone has the right to an opinion, even if it is not yours.
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Andrew's Response to 145084_me and her's Review
Written on: 25/05/2005
I do English Lit at AS Level (planning to also take it on to A2 also) and LOVE The World's Wife - a little too feminist at points maybe, but "The Devils Wife" and "Pilate's Wife" are brilliantly written and make her point very well. A brilliant collection - the best part of my course (as I am still to be convinced of Angela Carters "Wise Children")
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00Faulkner's Response to 145084_me and her's Review
Written on: 07/06/2005
I am currently studying a compilation of Duffy's poetry at A-level and although Duffy has a number of thought provoking works the worlds wife is not one of them. It is a one dimensional and tiresome collection that is by no means an erudite masterpiece.
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234517_Madhatter1's Response to 145084_me and her's Review
Written on: 17/03/2006
I am also studying Duffy at AS level and think that its brilliant and thought provoking once you get under the skin of feminism. There are many other meanings to the poems, just take Queen Herod as an example.
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Therise's Response to 145084_me and her's Review
Written on: 15/04/2007
I agree wholeheartedly. Duffy is the most talentless poet since the establishment of English literature. It's quite funny how a lot of girls I know support her; probably because she portrays their own sexism.
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Guest's Comment
Written on: 09/04/2012
She isn't just critical of men, she also belittles women. take 'Mrs Faust' for instance, Duffy doesn't at any point make Mrs faust out to be all sweet and innocent, her path is just as crude as Faust's. They both seek power, they are both selfish, but they do it in different ways. Before you make such a statement, you should analyze the poems, and look at what Duffy is really saying, or you could even look at her interview with Barry wood in 2005.