Sarah Ghile

Compare and contrast how Duffy and Churchill present women

who attempt to break free from societys stereotypes.
Carol Anne Duffy, renowned feminist and poet, wrote poems with
transcending messages of women in society and how they exceed or
break free of its constrains.
A poem that exhibits this is The Dummy and although this poem is
largely down to interpretation, it writes I can ask questions too, you
know. this implies that the dummy or perhaps a women, [or women in
society] has been silenced and oppressed. The voice of the dummy is
rebellious and condescending, asserting power and dominance, qualities
that in this society are believed to be alien to women. By obtaining these
qualities, and unleashing her voice, the dummy rebels and more so is
attempting to break free of societies constrains.
Another one of Duffys poem that features a women counteracting
societies stereotype is Standing female nude. The poem gives a voice to
female perspectives on life, using a dramatic monologue. She is also quick
to expose the unacceptably aggressive sexism of men. In the poem, a
naked model stands while an artist paints her image. We hear her inner
voice as she expresses her thoughts and feelings on the matter. She calls
the painter little man belittling him and making him small. Throughout
the poem there appears to be a shift in power between the model and the
painter. The model is objectified, dehumanised and made to be a work of
art. This is ironic as it is her body that is deemed the art, but this also
gives her power as it highlights the hypocrisy of the bourgeoisie class. As
a painting she is deemed valuable and a master piece yet as lower class
women, earning money in this way she is looked down upon. She breaks
free of a womens stereotype as it implies she works as an escort or a
similar industry. This does not align with what is excepted of women in
society.
Carols poem Queen Kong takes the renowned story of King Kong and flips
it around. In the poem, the giant gorilla is a female who bares relations
with a human man. She is possessive of him, calling him my man. She
also exerts a lot of power over him, which in itself shows a female
breaking free of societies stereotypes as the gender roles are switched in
the relationship the female is the dominant, possessive character while
the male the submissive.
In Carol Churchill Top Girls there are a number of characters who break
free of societies constrains. The most important figure in the play for being
a countertype, is Marlene, she is a strong independent business women
who has fought though societies barriers on women to make it to the top
of her felid. She is also a character that made a huge sacrifice of giving up
her child in order to continue with her own life. This is deemed by all
means unusual and somewhat taboo in society as a mother has abounded
her child for selfish reasons. This counteracts societys expectations of

Sarah Ghile
women to be nurturing, and a loving mother. Whats more is that Marlene
does not appear to regret this decision but in fact sees the logistic behind
it.