Carol Ann Duffy is feminist poet; therefore, it is interesting to apply a feminist

lens to her poetry because this is a way of gaining deeper insight into her ideas.
Carol Ann Duffy's purpose is to reclaim the female voice by writing from the
perspective of women.
Thetis was a sea goddess and was fated to bear a son mightier than its father.
Carol Ann Duffy recontextualised the Greek mythology of Thetis; a shapechanging woman to a contemporized version of the myth with a feminist twist. In
this poem Thetiss shape shifting, act as both a defense mechanism and a way of
expressing her true feelings and to escape the entrapment of male dominance.
The story of Thetis fits Simone de Beauvoirs idea of women as other and man
as the one; the idea that women are a minority group. This is true for Thetis as
she was forced into marriage and to bear Peleuss child. The first line of the
poem presents the idea of a self-destructing nature, I shrank myself to the size
of a bird; and is used to portray her vulnerability within the overpowering hand
of the man. This gives us the idea that women are suppressed and are inferior
to men. In the Second sex, Simone De Beauvoir states that society and culture
has deemed that woman is other and they are taught to see themselves as
other, to try and please others to make herself and object-a living doll for
men. This idea is reinforced in the next line, Sweet, sweet suggests femininity
and resembles a birds song that is often part of courtship, for the males benefit.
It may be contrasted with the idea of courtship as she seems intent on pleasing
the male, till I felt the squeeze of his fist. This action of brute force has caused
her to transform.
Another aspect of feminism is Germaine Greer's idea of woman as The object of
male Fantasy. Thetis is an object of desire, for the male subject. "So I shopped
for a suitable shape, Size 8." is the idea that refers to how women nowadays
seek to find or please men, by changing, looking thin and looking pretty. In the
Female Eunuch, Germaine Greer states that "The exciting woman of fantasy is
the one who creates the desire and releases virile potential by the mere sight of
her...". Thetis is therefore the object of male fantasy and is changing herself to
please the man. Her transformation to a snake is highlighted by the sibilance
present throughout the stanza "Snake. Big Mistake. Coiled in my charmer's
lap...Grasp of his strangler's clasp. "Coiled" suggests that she is about to leap or
attack, but is prevented by the "Grasp of his strangler's grasp", she is being
suppressed. She decides to change tact, and finds herself attempting to
intimidate "roar...meateater, raw". A futile attempt; she "sank through the floor
of the earth", connotations of "sank" again suggests her descent. This line may
be referring to Thetis wanting to disappear or escape a situation, i.e. she wanted
the earth to open up and swallow her; in this case she is trying to escape male
entrapment. The fact that the myth can be contemporized shows that the ideas
and principles in the past about the role of women in society, can still be applied
to todays society.

Pygmalion's Bride, is the tale of Pygmalion who falls in love with an ivory statue,
an embodiment of idealized femininity. It is obvious to the reader why the man is
fascinated with the statue as he explores her body, safe in the knowledge that
she can't respond to him. Pygmalion has control over her image; he has literally
sculpted the statue (the woman). Through this action alone, Pygmalion's power
over the statue is evident. In the line, "he squeezed, he pressed it shows that
Pygmalion is forcibly sculpting the statue to his ideal state. Squeezing and
pressing are actions that are quite forceful, indicating the power males have over
females as well as the reluctance for the statue/woman to submit to the will of
Pygmalion. This fits Germaine Greer's idea in the Female Eunuch that "the
female is considered a sexual object for the use and appreciation of men".
Through the poem, Carol Ann Duffy portrays the idea that for men, the ideal
woman is one who is passive and compliant; the statue "lay still" with the hope
that the man will leave. Encouraged by the statue's passivity, 'he stayed". At
first, Pygmalion just kissed and thumbed, but as the bride continuously stays
passive, he grows more aggressive until he squeezed and his nails were like
claws. When the bride finally decides to become active and arches, coiled,
writhed the man leaves and she is finally free from him. Duffy is hinting that, in
order to be liberated and have more power, a woman must become more
active. In a way, by becoming active to try get rid of the man, Duffy is mocking
patriarchy by seeing how Pygmalion would react to the statues sudden
activeness. Unexpectedly, he leaves her which implies that an active woman
may be a threat to a mans masculinity and that a man is attracted to a passive
woman because he can control them, making himself feel superior.
Standing Female Nude is poem written from the perspective of a female nude
model, in which she describes a day in her life as a nude model. In the first
stanza of the poem, the model introduces herself as an objectified woman.
Belly nipple arse in the window light/he drains the colour from me., shows how
the artist has transformed the models image into someone unrecognizable;
which further emphasizes her objectification. This fits Germaine Greers idea of
Eternal feminine (a female stereotype to which all women aspire and men desire)
Her value is solely attested by the demand she excites in others. The model
continues to say I shall be represented analytically and hung in great
museums; the model painted has been altered to please society. In this line,
Carol Ann Duffy has purposely highlighted the models objectification to the
reader. This idea can be supported by the final line of the poem, It does not look
like me. The idea of Eternal Feminine, can be seen in the next lines of the poem.
he possesses me on canvas as he dips the brush repeatedly into the paint. The
model has no control over how the artist will portray her, the artist can
manipulate parts he does not like about the model to produce art. Through the
painting, the artist has taken control of her body; emphasizing male dominance.

The model narrates When its finished he shows me proudly, lights a cigarette.
Although both the artist and the model are benefitting each from each other, the
artist carries himself in a manner that suggests superiority over the the model.

The model states that these artists take themselves too seriously, further
emphasizing his feelings of superiority over her. Which fits Germaine Greers
idea about women and work; how they are valued and paid- women earn as
much as men in same industries. In a male dominated world, women are valued
less, females have less recognition for art than men. The model is paid 12
francs, but in the long run the artist may sell the art for a bigger amount. The
model recognizes and dislikes the artists arrogance concluding the monologue I
say twelve francs and get my shawl. It does not look like me. The artist has
molded the models figure into a piece of art that would be aesthetically pleasing
to his audience.

The poem begins with the model stating, Six hours like this for a few francs,
this implies that she feels she is underpaid for her circumstances and shows that
she does not enjoy her work. She then
She refers to herself as a river whore, implying that she has sold her body in
multiple ways. Right from the beginning the model introduces herself as an
objectified woman.
She states that both the artist and herself are using each other to an extent.
Both poor, we make our living how we can. The artist and the model in a sense
are in collaboration to create a work of art for the Bourgeoisie. She says he is
concerned with volume, space. I with the next meal, which insinuates her low
socioeconomic status and the necessity of her work for survival. When the artist
states, Youre getting thin, Madame, this is not good, he emphasizes her low
social status. Although the model does no enjoy her line of work, it is a necessity
for her survival. The artist, however recognizes that he has more potential of
success than the model. He hopes to climb the social ladder and aquire a higher
socioeconomic status in society.
Standing Female Nude is written from the perspective of a female nude model, it
represents the voices of thousands of women who have been used as the models
for nude paintings. In the first stanza of the poem, the model introduces herself
as an objectified woman. belly nipple arse in the window light, he drains the
colour from me showing the artists transformation of her image to someone
who is unrecognizable, which further emphasis her objectification. The model
continues to say I shall be represented analytically and hung in great museums
In this line, Duffy blatantly highlights the models objectification to the reader.
The models figure has been altered to please society. This idea can be supported
by the final line of the poem, It does not look like me. This fits Germaine
Greers idea of Eternal feminine; A female stereotype to which all women aspire
and men desire. According to the model, the artist keeps some aspects of her
figure however, manipulates the parts he does not like to produce a work of art.
This idea can be supported when the model narrates, he possesses me on
canvas as he dips the brush repeatedly into the pain. The model (woman) does

not have any power or control over how she will be portrayed. Through the
painting, the artist has taken control/ownership of her body.
The model narrates When its finished he shows me proudly, lights a cigarette.
Although both the artist and the model are benefitting each from each other, the
artist carries himself in a manner that suggests superiority over the the model.
The model states that these artists take themselves too seriously, further
emphasizing his feelings of superiority over her. Which fits Germaine Greers
idea about women and work; how they are valued and paid- women earn as
much as men in same industries. In a male dominated world, women are valued
less, females have less recognition for art than men. The model is paid 12
francs, but in the long run the artist may sell the art for a bigger amount. The
model recognizes and dislikes the artists arrogance concluding the monologue I
say twelve francs and get my shawl. It does not look like me. The artist has
molded the models figure into a piece of art that would be aesthetically pleasing
to his audience.

The title of the poem reveals objectification of women and their position in
society and how they are often metaphorically forced to sit down. The word
standing however may suggest some sort of empowerment that women are
standing up for their rights.