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Analysis of Adultery

Synopsis= Its clear to see that this poem is based off a relationship that has been crushed through one partners decision to be deceitful and commit adultery against their partner. As a result the speaker of this poem demonstrates the effects, both short term and long term, that this act of deceit has

Key Quotations + Analysis= 
"Wash Themselves. Now"

  • This line conveys the sense that the speaker is trying to cleanse herself of her husbands deceit from her body, it could also portray that her husband is attempting to wash himself clean of the guilt caused from his sins. 
  • "Now" implies that she must constantly cleanse herself to feel sane and her mind must be washed frequently as the thoughts of her husbands deceit fill her mind.
"Sweet Darkness"
  • Here Duffy's use of an oxymoronic phrase links to the similar phrase 'ignorance is bliss' , connoting that when the speaker was unaware of her partners deceit it was much better, she would prefer to be kept in the dark where it is bliss rather than be confronted with the ugly truth of her partners adulterous behaviour. This line could also convey that her partner is finding his "sweet fix" by sleeping with someone else, so it is a sinister way of achieving it.
"Crumbles like a Wedding Cake" 
  • Here the use of wedding related imagery conveys the speakers distrust of marriage and relationships since her partners deceit. The verb choice "crumble" is a slow process implying that the marriage has gradually crumbled since the wedding day and without either person in the relationship noticing it has descended to rubble. 
"Tell tale clock, wiping the hours from its face"
  • The speakers depiction of time in this line is negative which indicates that time is running away from them and they cant catch up with it. It could also connote that they feel as if since his deceit the time spent in a relationship with her partner is nothing but a waste. 
  • "wiping" also suggests that whilst committing adultery the partner loses all track of time, "its" is an impersonal word choice which conveys that the stranger involved in this adultery is impersonal. 
"Turn on your beautiful eyes"
  • The tone of this line is filled with bitterness as the speaker is resentful that the eyes that her partner used to charm her have been used to charm others.
  • It could also imply that her partner is very on and off with his emotions with the speaker which is putting her through emotional torment, she does not know where she stands with him.
Links to other poems
Havisham= Both have a distorted perception of their marriage, we can see this as both speaker use wedding imagery in a negative light "stab at a wedding cake"
Disgrace= both speakers have a bitter portrayal of love and relationships 

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