Voice and Character in Mrs Midas and Valentine

1
Voice and Character in Mrs Midas and Valentine

• Tyler Mushinskie
• Maurice Del Rio

2
Mrs. Midas

• "It was late September. Id just poured a glass
  of wine, begun to unwind, while the vegetables
  cooked. The kitchen filled with the smell of
  itself, relaxed, its steamy breath "
• - Carol Ann Duffy starts the poem calm, setting
  the scene with a warm mood. The words "unwind",
  "smell" and "relaxed" show Mrs. Midas's classy
  character who is described as a daily house wife.
  Personification is used with "its steamy breathe"
  signifying the relaxing voice of the character
  which could show to the readers that her
  relationship is currently good with her husband.
• "I served up the meal. For starters, corn on the
  cob. Within seconds he was spitting out the
  teeth of the rich."
• - Shows an arrogant change of her husband. Mr.
  Midas has to spit out the corn because it turns
  to gold which may present a humorous tone to the
  audience. 

3
Mrs. Midas (Continued)

• It was then that I started to scream. He sank to
  his knees.After wed both calmed down, I
  finished the wineon my own, hearing him out. I
  made him sit"- Negative tone between the two
  characters. Their relationship has gone to
  being aggressive and emotional shown when Mrs.
  Midas started to scream as her husband sank to
  his knees. Expressive voice of anger between the
  two
• "I sold the contents... I think of him in certain
  lights.... I miss most even now"
• - Very personal monologue with the use of
  personal pronouns. Gives a sense of a dramatic,
  deep and soulful tone from Mrs. Midas since she
  is describing the past which she misses.

4
Valentine

• "Not a red rose or a satin heart"
• - This immediately sets the tone of the poem by
  stating two stereotypes of love and how they will
  not be included, giving the impression that the
  poem will not be about the happy side of love,
  but rather the dark and emotional filled side.
• "I give you an onion"
• - This extended metaphor for the poem suggests
  Duffy's thoughts on love as that of an onion,
  wrapped in many layers that need to be unpeeled.
  Also, love could be thought of as ugly.
• "I am trying to be truthful"
• - This establishes the character of the poem as
  Duffy herself as she tries to get the reader to
  understand her and hear her out, trying to
  justify her own beliefs to the reader.

5
Valentine  (continued)

• "It's fierce kiss will stay on your lips"
• - This negative connotation darkens the mood of
  the poem, suggesting deadliness, almost
  forcefulness through the use of "fierce". 
• "Here... Take it..."
• - These two stops throughout the poem suggest
  that Duffy puts no emotion behind the concept of
  her gift of an onion. This also further
  emphasizes her interpretation of love as one that
  she puts no emotion behind.
• "Its scent will cling to your fingers...cling to
  your knife."
• - This presents the darkest tone throughout the
  poem as Duffy compares the ring of marriage  to
  that of a knife, painfully and slowly destroying
  you. Also, the word "cling" suggests the
  desperation to hold to love