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Analysis of Valentine

Synopsis-
The purpose of Valentine is to expose the reader to a true representation of love that commercial media and society often tend to keep hidden, this form of love envisaged is purely "truthful", it is not exaggerated and it shows the genuine troubles associated with relationships.

 Key Quotations + Analysis
1.) "It is a moon wrapped in brown paper"

  • Here the moon clearly alludes to a symbol of love and in this sense it is concealed, this could suggest that at the beginning love i protected and cherished but as the relationship ages the layers are stripped the more honest and genuine a love becomes. 
  • The significance of the moon could connote that the moon is not always there showing the inconsistency of love, the moon is also out of reach which could imply that the speaker feels like true love and happiness is completely out of reach.


2.) "Satin heart"

  • Satin is a material heavily associated with luxury and expense, Duffy could be portraying here that the materialistic expenses on Valentines day are not a true representation on the meaning of love- she is criticising the commercialism of relationships.


 3.) "Its fierce kiss will stay on your lips"

  • This gives an allusion to the overwhelming toxicity of passion that a relationship can have, it could also suggest that lust can sometimes be used as a weapon within relationships and it can have dangerous consequences. 
  • By remaining on the lips it could allude to the fact that the possessive nature of a relationship can taint/stain an individual, effecting them for life 


 4.) "Careful Undressing"

  • This connotes that to the speaker love requires a careful hand, it creates the image of undressing a partner tenderly.
  •  The undressing is careful as it signifies that each layer stripped between a couple reveals more vulnerability and more opportunities to be hurt
Links to other poems-
  • Adultery= Both poems use the imagery of onions, Valentine exposes the true meaning of a relationship whereas Adultery shows the hurt and bitter sting of betrayal
  • Havisham= Both have a bitter representation of love and almost show a resentment to relationships 

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