‘Valentine’
Sample Essay
A poem on the subject of love is ‘Valentine’ by Carol Ann Duffy. This poem provides us with a different exploration of love than the normal views held by people and explores the fact that Duffy wants to share unconventional gifts as a sign of her love for her partner. Duffy conveys her feelings on the subject of love through imagery, structure, word choice and tone which enhances my understanding and appreciation of the poem.
Throughout the poem ‘Valentine’ Duffy conveys her strong feelings about the unconventional symbols of love that should be shared on Valentine’s Day, rather than the conventional means of chocolates or roses. The first part of the poem dismisses regular gifts but remains positive about love. However, the mood of the poem changes towards one of negativity and becomes aggressive and forceful while trying to be truthful with her lover.
The poem portrays the idea of love by exploring both positive and negative aspects associated with the subject. Normally, we link hearts, chocolates and flowers with the idea of love but Duffy feels differently and wants to share less conventional gifts with her partner on Valentine’s Day. This is unclear from the title, ‘Valentine,’ which suggests it will revolve around the regular gifts associated with Valentine’s Day. The connotations of hearts and romance suggests this and I find the title interesting as it seems that Duffy’s intentions were to have us taking the stereotypical view of love, but is aiming to show us that these views are wrong and there is much more to love than first thought by the reader. This certainly adds to my appreciation of the poem.
Her real intentions are evident in the first line of the poem where Duffy’s demand for unconventionality is clearly noticed:
“Not a red rose or a satin heart.”
This definite statement confirms Duffy’s request for unconventional means in the form of gifts for Valentine’s Day. This illustrates that she does not agree with regular gifts but would like to symbolise her love for her partner in a different way from the norm. The confusion that this line causes the reader certainly adds to my understanding when the poem is read in full and also ads to my appreciation of the poem.
Duffy’s unconventional treatment of love is again continued in stanza two where Duffy presents her partner with her unusual gift:
“I give you an onion.
It is a moon wrapped in brown paper.”
This “onion” is used as an extended metaphor of Duffy’s love towards her partner and is referred to later on in the poem. The “moon” is a conventional symbol of love but is “wrapped in brown paper,” suggesting that Duffy is trying to be truthful with her partner by choosing not to disguise the onion in fancy paper. This shows her gift of the onion to be very sincere which added to my appreciation as I found it rather comical, to be given an onion as a gift.
The positive aspects of love are presented further where Duffy describes what the onion symbolises to her relationship:
“Its promises light.”
Duffy is optimistic about the beginning of a lasting relationship with her partner. “Light” connotes hope for a relationship and also links with the idea f the pleasant and enjoyable aspect of love. “Promises” implies assurance of the relationship prospering and the positive aspects of love are clearly evident in this phrase.
The central line of the poem reveals the central idea with a very direct statement:
“I am trying to be truthful.”
This reinforces the idea of honesty when giving the gift of an onion. It also brings about a change in attitude and tone in the speaker. Prior to this line, the poet has been mainly positive about love, while after she turns more brutal and threatening. This change of mood is very much appreciated and I feel it helps the reader to enhance their understanding of the poem’s theme.
The negative aspects of the poem are then portrayed by Duffy. With the end of the relationship, comes the lasting memory of the relationship which is difficult to forget and Duffy explores these negative aspects firstly in stanza three:
“It will blind you with tears
like a lover.”
Duffy conveys that relationships may occasionally cause pain to those involved with the use of a simile. Just as an onion causes tears while peeling, Duffy is saying that the relationship may cause tears, which again is very truthful and honest. The use of “blind” suggests pain and distress, possibly caused by partners in a relationship. Duffy has shown that love does not only have positive aspects but negative aspects as well, which enhances my appreciation of the poem.
Duffy emphasises this fact that love holds both positive and negative aspects with the use of an extended metaphor:
“It will make your reflection
a wobbling photo of grief.”
The metaphor “wobbling photo of grief” connotes that ain and tears can be caused by honesty, again linking back to the central idea of honesty. Duffy is implying that the onion is like a mirror showing a distorted image. Duffy furthermore suggests that pain can be caused by relationships with her use of “grief.” This argument enhances my understanding of the poem, as Duffy knows distress will occur in any relationship and she clearly wants to communicate this fact and has done so in this line.
Duffy then drastically changes her attitude to one of a violent manner in the final stanza:
“Lethal.”
This suggests violence through “lethal” having connotations of violence and brutality. She uses this threat after her realisation of her rejected gift and she emphasises it by using it in a line alone.
Violence is likewise implied in the final two lines of the poem where Duffy again conveys that fact that a relationship can lead to violence:
“Its scent will cling to your fingers
cling to your knife.”
A passionate relationship is not easy to forget and the outcome may well be a violent one. Duffy conveys the idea of the smell of the onion being strong and similar to a strong relationship, as it is difficult to forget. The poet’s decision to use the word “knife” also indicates that she threatens violence in the final line which adds to my appreciation of her deeper exploration of love.
In conclusion, I feel Duffy has greatly added to my appreciation and understanding through effective use of word choice, similes and tone. She puts across her message that love has both positive and negative aspects very well and explores in depth both of these, adding to my appreciation.