love and relationships Flashcards
overview
In The Manhunt, Simon Armitage explores the theme of love and relationships through the perspective of a wife trying to reconnect with her injured husband. The poem presents love as patient, fragile, and deeply affected by trauma, showing how relationships can change due to emotional and physical wounds. Through delicate imagery and a slow, fragmented structure, the poem highlights the wife’s determination and tenderness as she carefully tries to rebuild intimacy with her husband.
“After the first phase, after passionate nights and intimate days,”
The opening line, “After the first phase, after passionate nights and intimate days,” immediately sets up the idea that their relationship has changed. The phrase “first phase” suggests a shift, implying that before the husband’s injuries, their love was full of passion and closeness. The repetition of “after” slows the pace of the poem, creating a reflective tone that hints at nostalgia for their past relationship. This contrast between the past and present shows how love can be altered by external circumstances, such as war and trauma.
“only then would he let me trace the frozen river which ran through his face”
This metaphor compares the scar on the soldier’s face to a “frozen river.” The verb “trace” suggests a delicate, loving action, showing how the speaker is patient and gentle in trying to understand her partner’s trauma. The “frozen river” could symbolize emotional coldness or numbness, reflecting how the soldier has shut himself off emotionally due to his experiences. This highlights how love in a relationship isn’t just about romance, but also about healing and understanding each other’s pain. The tone here is soft and intimate, mirroring the speaker’s careful approach to reconnecting with her partner. The enjambment in this line creates a flowing effect, almost mimicking the movement of her fingers tracing his wounds, which reinforces the tenderness in their relationship.
The blown hinge of his lower jaw.”
The husband’s injuries are described in mechanical terms, such as “The blown hinge of his lower jaw.” The metaphor “blown hinge” makes him seem broken, as if he is no longer fully human but rather an object in need of repair. This could suggest that the war has not only physically damaged him but has also affected his ability to communicate, creating a distance between him and his wife. The use of violent imagery, with “blown” possibly referring to an explosion, highlights the brutality of his wounds and how they have impacted their relationship. The wife’s efforts to reconnect with him show that love is not just about physical closeness but also about emotional healing.
“the damaged, porcelain collar-bone”
The comparison of the soldier’s collarbone to “porcelain” suggests fragility, showing that he is both physically and emotionally broken. The word “damaged” emphasizes that war has left permanent marks on him, affecting not only his body but also their relationship. This shows how love can involve patience and care, as the speaker has to navigate her partner’s vulnerability. The tone here is almost mournful, as she realizes the extent of his pain. The use of short, precise phrases in this part of the poem slows the pace, reflecting how careful she has to be in reconnecting with him.
“The rungs of his broken ribs.”
The extended metaphor of climbing appears in the line “The rungs of his broken ribs.” Comparing his ribs to “rungs” suggests that the wife is metaphorically climbing towards understanding him, reinforcing the idea that emotional healing is a slow and difficult journey. The word “broken” once again emphasizes his vulnerability, showing that war has left lasting damage. The poem’s short, fragmented lines mirror this process, as if each step towards reconnecting with him is small and delicate. This metaphor also suggests that love is not effortless—it requires effort, patience, and persistence, much like climbing a ladder.
conclusion
Overall, The Manhunt presents love as something that requires patience, care, and resilience. The wife’s gentle approach to her husband’s injuries reflects her deep love, but the poem also acknowledges the difficulties of maintaining a relationship after trauma. The use of delicate imagery, metaphors of fragility, and a slow, fragmented structure all contribute to the theme of love and relationships, showing that while love can heal, it cannot always fix everything. Armitage captures the complexities of love in the face of hardship, making the poem a powerful exploration of intimacy, devotion, and emotional distance.
