Close Critical Analysis of Mrs Midas Essay

In Mrs Midas, Carol Ann Duffy takes the well-k nowadaysn reputation of world-beater Midas from Ancient Grecian mythology and places it in a modern context from the married womans perspective. Originally, the story is close King Midas and the position he possesses that turns everything he touches into gold, which leads him to ultimately visualise that wealth al iodin messt make him happy as yet unlimited gold. The moral of the King Midas story is that you cant demoralise happiness, and also to be careful what you wish for as avariciousness is certain to overcome you.This is where the present day expression The Midas Touch derives from meaning everything a person does is successful and profit adequate to(p) as everything in modern confederacy seems to be m angiotensin-converting enzymey orientated. Duffy implies a nonher meaning to the story of King Midas as in Mrs Midas, Midas is portrayed as the modern day wor office creation who neglects his wife for success and weal th also reflecting the increasing number of couples having a divorces nowadays.The underlying theme of the metrical composition is about the conserves selfishness destroying coupling as hands are associated with becoming too involved in work so neglect their wives/families. He toyed with his spoon, then mine, then with the knives, the forks the listing of objects that hes turning into gold illustrates the obsession custody dumbfound with making m oney out of continuous successes they have like Midas greed it seems addictive as they keep wanting more and more. Toyed implies that hes enjoying it he enjoys being the alleged money-maker so sees no harm in what hes doing. Its a flirtatious reference as if hes using his potent sexuality to bewitch bit his wife this also whitethorn reflect how ambitious and prosperous men are perceived as more attractive by women (dependency so ensures security).Midas selfishness is highlighted when his wife describes her dreaming I dreamt I bo re his child she can only dream of having his children as the reality is shell never be able to. Its ironic how a wifes ordinary dream of having a child cant come true when her married mans senseless dream of turning everything into gold does Duffy contrasts mens lust for materialism with womens needs for simple things such as family. His selfishness is emphasised as because of his foolish actions, his wife wont be able to accomplish these simple things hes already succeed many successes it seems yet hes asking for more. My dream-milk burned in my breasts milk that should be at that place is left unused so is make her pain as shes never going to feed this child, theres also a sense of longing from her unfulfilled aspirations of motherhood. Shes never going to experience having a family (with Midas), which all married couples merit to do.Following on from his endless desires, But who has wishes granted? Him. displays how no one actually has their wishes come true only Midas cou ld make this happen. The livid pure tone in which this is said suggests that hes always had a greedy nature the full stop stressing the bluntness of it as if, actually, shes not so surprised that he was capable of doing such a thing. Her husband didnt even consider her when he make the wish he was that selfish he couldnt stop to think about how this would impaction of his wife. Perhaps this is imitating how in reality, men dont always musical note the need to consult their wives before making a decision as they feel in charge wearing the trousers in the relationship direction that what they say, goes.The reader knows that the couple were in complete, but Mrs Midas now fears her husband because of his power. We were rabid then, in those halcyon days implies that they did love each other, halcyon suggesting that it mayve been exciting young love as it was an early idyllic breaker point of their relationship nevertheless they were in love which is now questionable since shes af raid of him. Near petrified/now I feared his honeyed embrace portrays how Midas has subconsciously turned himself into something else a heller and as a result his wife is frightened of him and what he could do to her. Honeyed embrace sounds comforting a soothing hug thatll ensure everythings alright, but really it federal agency something completely different its this embrace that will turn her into one of his gold pieces end her aliveness so now she fears him more than anything.This poem very much seems to depict men as having dominating power over women. When Midas sat in that chair like a king on a burnished throne his status is represented as man of the house, putting him in light of the original King Midas. Burnished proposes that it isnt any old throne but one polished to perfection, again signifying the lust men have towards a bourgeois lifestyle. Mrs Midas feels confused therefore helpless, what in the name of God is going on? He started to laugh. displays Midas taki ng advantage of her ignorance, enjoying the new power he possesses. express joy suggests that hes pleased with himself and doesnt really care about the consequences of what hes done.Woman being under the influence of male dominance is shown through Mrs Midas obedience and ordinary lifestyle. He asked where was the wine. I poured with a shaking hand shes acting the stereotypical wife who corset at home obeying the husbands orders. The clich of women being the usual woman of the house is therefore present as well The vegetables cooked/I served up the meal implies she does the cooking for them on a regular basis, as this is part of her daily routine. This is mirrored by the clear structure of stanzas, indicating the ordinary and boring life shed had the structures fixed and predictable. The absence of success for the wife also displays how women arent expected to work and achieve things for themselves.However, there is a slight suggestion to women maintaining some sort of power to o. The whole grimace of the wife going away the husband puts women into a different light, proving that Midas doesnt go steady everything Mrs Midas does. So he had to move out, shes made the net decision and he listened to her, he also sat in the patronise of car which illustrates his decline in status from sitting on a burnished throne. She leaves him, I sold the contents of the house and came flock here indicates that shes taken a stand and even made money from it the only achievement it seems that Mrs Midas has attained, is as a result of intermission up with her husband. This emulates how women dont need to depend on men for success they are capable of being independent and earning a life sentence for themselves.Overall, shut up it seems that males possess overriding power over females. Despite Mrs Midas leaving Midas, it was fundamentally him who caused the marriage to end. She felt incompetent because of his power, so knew it was crucial to get away from him. At the en d of the poem Mrs Midas admits that she misses him, revealing he still has a hold on her emotionally. I miss most, even nowhis touch. implies she misses his humanity and what they wouldve taken for granted before the physical side to their relationship, and of trail with that the love they shared. Perhaps this reflects another negative stereotype of women where theyre seen as being too emotionally attached Mrs Midas seems to be in love with Midas even now despite everything and him turning into a foolish, greedy monster. She doesnt care for the golden Midas touch that destroyed their love (which ironically is a positive association), but the true human Midas touch that love her in return.