Love and Romance: Flashcards
overview
In Valentine, Carol Ann Duffy explores the theme of love in a way that both critiques and challenges traditional romantic ideas. By rejecting the stereotypical symbols of love, Duffy uses the extended metaphor of an onion to express the complexity, vulnerability, and intensity that come with real relationships. Throughout the poem, Duffy’s choice of imagery, symbolism, and tone gives a new perspective on love—one that is layered, unpredictable, and at times, painful
“Not a red rose or a satin heart,
The very first line, “Not a red rose or a satin heart,” sets the tone of rejection. Duffy immediately distances herself from cliché expressions of love that are often associated with superficial, commercial romance. By using alliteration with “red rose” and “satin heart,” Duffy draws attention to the typical, unoriginal nature of these gifts. The negation (“Not”) implies that these symbols of romance are inadequate, even shallow. Duffy’s use of these symbols at the start of the poem contrasts the idealised, fairy-tale notion of love with the raw, realistic one she is about to present.
“I give you an onion”
The onion itself becomes the central metaphor for love. The repeated phrase “I give you an onion” highlights its importance as the core symbol of the poem. The repetition of this line gives the gift of the onion a certain weight—it’s not just any gift; it’s a statement. Duffy’s onion is something real, something that causes both pain and beauty. The onion is both tangible and multi-layered, just like love, which is never simple or straightforward. Through this metaphor, Duffy shows that real love requires peeling back the layers and reveals that relationships often involve more than just surface-level emotions.
“It is a moon wrapped in brown paper.”
Duffy writes, “It is a moon wrapped in brown paper.” The moon is often associated with romance, beauty, and the mysterious side of love, but here, it is enclosed within “brown paper.” The symbolism of the moon suggests that love is often seen as something mysterious and full of potential, but the brown paper implies that love is sometimes mundane, ordinary, and not always glamorous. It’s a juxtaposition of the ideal and the real, showing that love has both light and dark sides. Duffy also employs a visual metaphor here, painting the onion as something that holds an inherent beauty, even though it might not appear so at first.
“It promises light like the careful undressing of love”
The phrase “It promises light like the careful undressing of love” uses a simile to describe how the onion, like a lover, promises light (hope, warmth) but only through a gradual process. The word “careful” adds a sense of deliberation and gentleness to the act of undressing the onion, paralleling the idea that love, too, takes time and patience to reveal itself fully. This contrasts the often rushed, impulsive portrayals of love in popular culture. The act of undressing here can be interpreted as a metaphor for emotional vulnerability in a relationship—both a shedding of layers and the revealing of inner truths.
“It will blind you with tears like a lover
The line “It will blind you with tears like a lover” shifts the tone toward something more intense and even painful. The use of the verb “blind” suggests that love, like an onion, can overwhelm a person, obscuring vision and forcing an emotional reaction. The comparison of the onion to a lover implies that love has the potential to cause suffering as well as joy. The juxtaposition of love’s sweetness with the sharpness of the tears emphasizes how love is often unpredictable and can lead to intense emotional highs and lows. The personification of the onion as a lover gives it agency, suggesting that love can exert power over us, often in ways we can’t control.
“It will make your reflection a wobbling photo of grief”
“It will make your reflection a wobbling photo of grief” is another striking image that uses metaphor to explore the consequences of love. The “wobbling photo” suggests that love can distort how we see ourselves, much like grief or emotional turmoil can cause instability in one’s sense of self. This distortion of self-image is also mirrored in the enjambment between the lines, symbolising how emotions spill over, becoming hard to control or define. The use of “grief” directly associates love with loss and emotional struggle, reinforcing the idea that love is not always easy or joyous, but can sometimes be filled with sorrow and confusion.
“Its platinum loops shrink to a wedding ring, if you like.”
Later in the poem, Duffy writes, “Its platinum loops shrink to a wedding ring, if you like.” The symbolism of a wedding ring is significant here, as it represents commitment, loyalty, and the idea of eternal love. However, the word “shrink” carries a negative connotation, implying that love can feel limiting or confining, especially when it is reduced to an object like a ring. The phrase “if you like” adds a sense of indifference or choice, suggesting that not everyone views marriage or long-term commitment the same way. This ambiguity invites readers to reflect on the complexities of commitment and the potential limitations that love can impose.
structure
In terms of structure, Duffy writes in free verse, with no regular rhyme or meter. This choice reflects the unpredictable nature of love—it is not neat or orderly. The irregular line lengths mirror the emotional highs and lows of relationships. Duffy also uses caesura (pauses in the middle of lines) to add emphasis and tension, forcing the reader to pause and think about the implications of each line. The abruptness of these pauses helps convey the disruptive nature of love, making the poem feel raw and unsettled.
tone
The tone of the poem evolves from a more intimate, almost playful beginning, to a darker, more intense and possessive emotion by the end. This shift in tone reflects the complexity of love itself—how it can start off gentle and promising but may eventually lead to pain, suffering, and emotional conflict. The final tone is unequivocally forceful and unsettling, symbolising the lasting impact that love can have, whether it is positive or negative.
context
Contextually, Duffy’s feminist and anti-commercial stance is evident in the poem. During the 1990s, when Valentine was written, society was obsessed with superficial expressions of love, especially around holidays like Valentine’s Day. Duffy challenges this by rejecting the typical, consumerist symbols of romance in favour of something real and raw. By giving an onion as a gift, Duffy forces the reader to confront love as it truly is—complex, difficult, and transformative.
conclusion
In conclusion, Duffy’s Valentine offers a mature and realistic portrayal of love, rejecting idealised portrayals in favour of something more layered and raw. Through the extended metaphor of the onion, she explores the complexities, contradictions, and emotional depth of love. Duffy uses symbolism, metaphor, and tone to highlight how love can be painful, possessive, enduring, and even dangerous, making her poem a compelling reflection on the nature of romance.
