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Analysis of Away and See

Synopsis-
Duffy used the phrase "Away and See" as it is a Scottish phrase meaning "go and have a look", showing links to Duffy's early childhood in Scotland. This poem is written from the perception of a mother who has a daughter reaching the age of which they branch away from the grasp of their parents and grow their independence into adulthood. The over-riding tone of this poem is joyous and sentimental however at times there is an element of regret within the mothers words for not seizing every opportunity thrown at her in her youth, therefore she deeply encourages her daughter to seize what life has to offer her.

 Key Quotations + Analysis
1.) "Suck at a boiled sun" -

  •  Here Duffy uses metaphorical language to compare the sun to a boiled sweet, this could imply various things one of which being an essence of childlike imagery. This shows that although the mother is happy for her daughter she is still very reminiscent of her being a child and wants to hold on to that feeling.
  •  Another interpretation is that boiled sweets are difficult to eat which displays that growing independence of her daughter is a bitter-sweet feeling, the sweet taste in her mouth is pleasant however it is tough to swallow signifying it is tough to accept that she is growing up. 


 2.) "The chapel nearby stopping you dead" - 

  • The mother is emphasising that marriage (which demonstrates commitment) comes sooner than you think and although she wants her daughter to find love she does not want her to fall into love too soon as marriage stifles the daughters ability to seize life and explore the world. This could perhaps imply that the mother is someone regretful of falling into marriage so soon and wished she had enough time to capture every opportunity of life.


 3.) "The flight of syllables"-

  •  Duffy often uses the exploration of language terms to convey meaning and here, the speaker is conveying that they wish for their daughter to travel and understand other cultures through their languages. 
  • The word choice flight could be symbolising the syllables as a bird, this insinuates that the mother is encourage her daughter to find freedom however flight is also a fast paced verb choice implying that the mother doesn't want her daughter to rush past her youth and she should in-fact cherish every moment of her youth by slowing down.


 4.) "Slip off your dress in a high room over the harbour" - 

  • This quote signifies the daughters first sexual encounter as a young woman which is a pivotal moment within a women's life that takes vital part in her development. The mother is encouraging her daughter to grow and learn about herself through the means of love, or perhaps she is wishing for her daughter to be sexually liberated as this may have been a regret of the mothers in her later life. This connotation links to the later line "Taste it for me" which also has sexual connotations attached to it.


 5.) "the vivid, horror and pity, passion" - 

  • The use of juxtaposing nouns in this line displays that the mother is realistic towards her daughters future in the fact that it will not all be bright, there will be moments where the daughter faces a degree of emotions but the mother is prepared to let her daughter face that as it is all a key part of her development.
Themes in Away and See
  • Familial Relationships
  • Freedom
  • Childhood and Youth
Links to other poems
  • Litany= The speakers depiction of familial relationships is oppressive and damaging whereas in Away and See it is a contradicting approach towards motherhood which is a lot more open.
  • Before you were mine= Both speakers have a more positive outlook on familial relationships as both bonds are extremely close.


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