Oslo

Duffys poem Oslo conveys many feelings of depression, isolation and de-
attachment, as the poem examines how it feels to be a stranger in an unfamiliar
place. The second person narrative used by Duffy in the poem enhances the de-
attached feeling of the poem, as it suggests that the persona is talking to
themselves, for comfort Youre foreign here. By using the second person voice,
Duffy immediately involves the reader. This instant level of immersion
immediately provokes our mind to empathise with the persona and create
associations with them to our personal lives. Therefore with this simple trick
Duffy grasps the full attention of the reader and enhances the sense of isolation
in the poem. The instructional, emotionless tone increases the sense of isolation
in the poem as it displays the personas monotonous routine, What you do.
Follow the slow tram. The lack of personality and short, snappy sentences
emphasises the personas feeling of alienation. The imperatives are contrasted
by the slow tram, as the imperative suggests motivation and energy, and the
sluggish adjective portrays the lack of energy. This contrast suggests that below
the personas false energy, they feel no motivation to really live, and an
underlying depression, perhaps caused by their loneliness.
The bleak atmosphere and weather in Oslo emphasis the lack of emotion and
de-attachment of the persona, Wear your coat with the hood. This instruction
highlights the personas introversion as the hood is a defence from the cold and
the people of the town. This is a physical sign of the personas desire to hide
physically and emotionally from society. The end of the first stanza underline the
positive side to being an observer, The town reveals itself the way the one you
live in never could. This personification not only portrays the personas outside
view, but explains the alienation of the persona, as they didnt feel belonging in
their hometown, and that they were too invested in it to observe unbiasedly. The
second stanza reveals the inability of the persona to communicate with their
peers due to their introversion, and their relief that they will not be forced to
communicate with the inhabitants of their town because they dont Speak the
language. This further isolates the persona from their surroundings, but the
persona enjoys being innocent, invisible, their insignificance and alienation is
liberating. This invisibility takes a darker edge when the persona bribes the
bellboy to find the casino. Although the personas anonymity is freeing, their
inclinations have negative aspects. The adjective linked to the hotel grand
hotel serve only to further disconnect the persona as the adjective creates an
imposing, belittling feeling. The enjarbment between the second and third stanza
emphasise the personas bad decisions and the speed at which things can
deteriorate.
The negative aspects of the personas anonymity increases when Duffy uses
sibilance in scented, smoking, silent, she condemns the persona for their
misdemeanours as the sibilance creates a seedy, sly atmosphere. Duffy
comments that the alienation of the persona allows them to be reckless and
deceitful. The isolation and invisibility of the persona allows them to manipulate
their introversion and create the illusion of confidence. In Youre in, the short
sentence conveys the personas joy at having been accepted by the town, and
their realisation that they dont belong here either. Some say that the repetition
in you bet, bet and bet emphasises the compulsive nature of gambling, but I
believe that the repetition is used to reiterate the personas desire to fit in, and
its destructive nature. The rhetorical question Then? used in the fourth stanza
creates a feeling of unease and anticipation in the reader, and the anti-climatic
answer You want to go home reveals the personas desire to belong, and their
realisation that they could never belong here, as they must be deceitful and
become a different person. The personas isolation cant be overcome and this
causes a feeling of inner dissatisfaction. They have not won anything as they
return with only a numbered key, and this symbolises then loss felt by the
persona due to their alienation.
Duffy also symbolises the future of the persona in the numbered key, which the
persona can unlock if they take agency in their own life. She also gives the
persona a solution to their isolation, and suggests that this is the answer to their
happiness in someone loves you hard enough. Some say that this is a bitter
criticism of the clichs used to give hope to the depressed. But the sense of
isolation felt in the poem is so strong that Duffy must alleviate this in the final
couplet. The enjarbment here gives importance and weight to this person, as
Duffy wishes to display the importance of connecting with others.