Unlike ‘My Last Duchess,’ this poem follows the traditional structure of poems by incorporating stanzas that are topic based. These standards show that the woman is more deliberate and thoughtful in the way she delivers her criticism. Even the stanzas are structured with the first three being very similar where a few phrases are repeated such as ‘if that be what you ask,’ and ‘Or if you think,’ this emphasizes her conscientious word selection. ‘A Woman to Her Lover,’ appears more sincere than, ‘My Last Duchess’ because it does not have a rhyme scheme that makes the text appear more spontaneous and true. Whereas ‘My Last Duchess’ utilises a rhyme scheme of twenty-eight rhyming couplets in iambic pentameter, which makes it sound rehearsed and superficial. Although there are some similarities between ‘My Last Duchess’ and ‘A Woman to Her Lover’ one being that they are both written in dramatic monologue meaning they are one sided: this should normally have the effect that the poetic voice could orchestrate events. Although in both poem’s the poetic voice’s become susceptible and there are notable changes in tone signifying both anger and fear respectively.’ A Woman to Her Lover’ is the only poem written from a female perspective and has a subsequent softer tone. One of the main contrasts between the two stated poems is that the woman does not have the Duke’s desire to dominate although her demands lean towards imagination in the last stanza indicates that she herself does not believe this could happen.
“So together we may know the purity and heights
Of passion, and of joy and sorrow.”
Also here the paradox of ‘joy and sorrow’ further supports the point that the conditional tense creates the impression that this woman is giving her terms for marriage. Even though many at this time could have laughed at her claim and her denial of the dominance of the patriarchal system her conditions become more ‘creative’ it could have sparked further criticism.
“Then O husband, I am yours forever
And our co-equal love will make the stars laugh with joy
And to its circling fugue pass, hand holding hand,
Until we reach the very heart of god.”
Although this verifies that the woman still loves her ‘lover’ it also shows how she has become overwhelmed by her emotions and know her words descended into irrationality: such claims of ‘co-equal’ love could not exist and the religious and celestial imagery creates the impression that the ‘woman’ is awe-struck by her own imagination. Finally after her pursuit of equality for three stanzas she submits herself anyway; when she says ‘I am yours forever’ as the word ‘yours’ is another personal pronoun that indicates belonging.
The first stanza contains imagery of slavery and servitude that hyperbolize the imbalance of power in there relationship between the woman and her lover. ‘ To make of me a bondslave’ and ‘in drudgery and silence’ are the main examples of this: they show that this woman is not contempt with the traditionalist female role and acknowledges that she wants more in her relationship. The final line of this stanza is ‘ if that be what you ask. O lover I refuse you!’ Here the use of the word ‘lover’ shows that however much the woman loves this man but she cannot continue on these terms. The second stanza the theme is a lack of appreciation of faults as well as assets. The woman portrays her emotions in many ways one is by using sarcasm when she says, ‘every dead and word and wish is golden’ and ‘ a wingless angel that can do no wrong’ these statements hyperbolize the woman’s situation of not being appreciated for who she and that she is not perfect, a pragmatic persona. The final line of the stanza is very similar to that of the previous one. It says ‘if that be what you ask, fool, I refuse you!’ Which is impeditive and attacks his masculinity with the word ‘fool’. The contrast between ‘O lover’ and ‘fool’ is vast; it could perhaps display the differences in the ‘lover’s’ character. The third stanza contains sexual imagery and is similar to bribe in an ultimatum. The purpose of this stanza is to remind her ‘lover’ that they have eventful sexual relationship where it says ‘my body supple only for your sense delight,’ which is again contradictory to the woman’s cause because she submits herself again, it is as if the woman does not believe that change is possible in their relationship. Also there is sibilance that creates a sensual atmosphere ‘skin soft...supple.’ The penultimate line of this stanza is ‘ Oh shame, and pity and abasement,’ which shows the woman is embarrassed by her references towards sex. Despite all the final line again hyperbolizes the woman’s aim, ‘any wakened woman of our time,’ which again shows that she is an early feminist fighting for equality.
The final stanza has a different tone to the first three stanzas, as it is a ‘reward’ gained by following the stated conditions. It outlines the woman’s aim is not dominance but equality especially when she says, ‘our co-equal love,’ this is a clear sign of desperation and an obvious difference from the predecesing stanzas which were much more refined. The ‘woman’ is optimistic she uses positive and heavenly imagery such as ‘I shall be your comrade, friend and mate’ which shows her quest fro equality is a positive one she wants their relationship to be closer and does not want to be considered a ‘wife’ as such for the connotations of ‘servitude and slavery.’ Another example is the usage of the words ‘of passion, and of joy.’ The later section of the third stanza is where desperation becomes apparent’ where imagery becomes heavenly and hyperbole is predominant. It says ‘love will make the stars to laugh with joy’ which is a personification and pathetic fallacy to some degree. Alliteration of the soft h sounds in, ‘hand holding hand’ is very effective at portraying a jovial mood whether it is authentic or not. Lastly ‘until we reach the very heart of god,’ concludes both the stanza and the poem and creates the impression the last few lines could be a prayer of some sort as the religious imagery becomes increasingly common. Unfortunately this poem although an attack on the chauvinistic male society of the time appears relatively ineffective in that an almost a complete U-turn occurs in the last stanza as the woman promises to submit herself when she says ‘I am yours forever,’ also the link between the eternality of the word forever coupled with the heavenly imagery creates the impression that it is almost a fairy tale ending.
