Havisham Flashcards
Intro
Poetry often explores issues and themes which we may find interesting. Love’s power has inspired countless poems over the years and “Havisham” by Carol Anne Duffy is one of these. This poem gives a voice to Charles Dickens’ complex spinster and helps us understand her mind that has been left warped by love’s powerful and relentless grip. The poem can be seen as an exploration of the crippling power of love.
Point 1
Stanza 1 - “beloved sweetheart bastard”
- The poem opens with an oxymoron and presents us with a character who seems torn and confused by the power of love as she addresses“beloved sweetheart bastard”. The positive, loving beloved sweetheart” is juxtaposed with the brutal insult in “bastard.” Oxymorons usually tend to indicate ambivalence and confusion, so it is an interesting and unsettling mood to begin the poem on.
Point 2
Stanza 1 - “dark green pebbles for eyes”
We see quickly what love’s influence has done to this woman and how it is affecting her and making her seem rather sinister. Havisham wishes death upon her ex-fiancé – to the point she prays for it. The “dark green pebbles for eyes” reflect this bitterness; the pebbles may represent the hardening of her heart and her emotions as a result of what happened to her, hence her resentment and bitter thoughts.
Point 3
stanza 1 - “ropes on the back of my hand I could strangle with.”
Things become even more sinister when a psychotic, murderous side to Havisham is revealed- she would like to carry out his death herself as she describes “ropes on the back of my hand I could strangle with.” The ropes could represent bulging veins on the backs of her hands, possibly caused by her squeezing her fists in rage at her situation which she just cannot accept.
The reference to “strangle” hints at ambivalent feelings because, psychologically, strangulation is very “up close and personal”. Does she want to be close to him physically and emotionally or just to be close enough to enjoy watching the bastard die? Clearly, she has been violently affected by her ordeal at hands of love.
Point 1
Stanza 2 - “spinster.”
As the poem progresses, the focus shifts a little as we see the desperate state love’s brutal force has left Havisham in, both physically and mentally. The second stanza begins on an angry, bitter note by introducing the word “spinster.” It is the only part of the poem where enjambment does not take place across stanzas. She wants the word to stand out because she despises it so much and the stigma it brings. She wears it like a label around her neck and is very aware of it
Point 2
Stanza 2 - “stink(s) and remember(s).
This bitterness gives way to a mood of desperation which perhaps elicits our sympathy towards Havisham, and we are told how she “stink(s) and remember(s).” It seems she has lost any self-respect as she decays along with her surroundings.
Point 3
Stanza 2 - “yellowing”
This decay is reflected by her dress “yellowing” and is further reminder of the length of time she has been like this.
Point 4
Stanza 2 - “cawing” of “noooo at the wall.”
Havisham’s loneliness is highlighted by her “cawing” of “noooo at the wall.” There is nobody for her to relate her suffering to – she has completely isolated herself from the world and society, broken by the power of love
Point 1
Stanza 3 - “puce curses which are sounds, not words.”
The power of love has caused Havisham’s sense of frustration to build up to blind rage as she talks of “puce curses which are sounds, not words.” Puce is a reddish colour which is often associated with anger, and in this case she is so angry that she cannot even form words - only incoherent sounds come out as she curses and swears.
Point 2
Stanza 3 - “some nights better”
Yet, all of a sudden the mood changes from this enraged outburst to one that is oddly erotic, even poignant, and we detect a hint of optimism as Havisham recalls “some nights better”
Point 3
Stanza 3 - “then down until I bite awake.”
However, this escape from reality and this optimistic mood is short lived and we return to the angry and psychotic character the betrayal of love has caused, as she imagines “then down until I bite awake.”
Point 4
Stanza 3 - “loves hate”, brutally emasculate her former lover
As she is violently thrust back into reality we see a disturbing desire to brutally emasculate her former lover as a form of revenge. The oxymoron of “loves hate” reminds us once again of the confusion and conflict in her mind. The rapid changes of mood that occur frequently throughout the poem encapsulate what disorientation the power of love has caused Havisham.
Point 1
Stanza 4 - “Red ballon bursting in my face”
As the poem reaches its conclusion the power of love it at its most potent and the mood is certainly at its most disturbing, angry and violent. The “Red ballon bursting in my face” is an interesting metaphor – while we associate red with love it can also signal danger. Here we see the danger of emotionally investing everything in one person as the ballon bursts and she is left with nothing.
Point 2
Stanza 4 - “a male corpse for a long slow honeymoon.”
The penultimate line contains the most disturbing image of the poem as she wishes for “a male corpse for a long slow honeymoon.” Havisham’s rage and bitterness is directed at all men and there are undertones of torture and the enjoyment she would take out of it and we are appalled at the breakdown of her senses and reason.
Point 3
Stanza 4 - “don’t think its the only the heart that b-b-b-breaks”
Surprisingly, however, the poem ends on a sympathetic mood as the speaker reminds us “don’t think its the only the heart that b-b-b-breaks” The obvious contradiction between madness and sadness in the concluding lines fully displays the extraordinary power of love and leaves us unsure of our feelings towards the intricate character of Havisham, who is clearly broken at thr hands of her ordeal.
Conclusion
In conclusion, “Havisham” is certainly a poem which explores the power of love. Through the poet’s skilful use of poetic techniques such as imagery and enjambement, we see a complex character torn apart by what love has done to her and we are shocked at the impact it has had on her, mentally and physically. The poem, along with the devastating power of love, reminds us of the dangers of obsession and of not moving on from heartbreak.
