Analysis of 'A woman to her lover' by Christina Walsh

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English GCSE Poetry Coursework

'A Woman to Her Lover' by Cristina Walsh

'A woman to her lover' by Christina Walsh could represent the Duchess response to Duke Ferrara's 'My Last Duchess,' when comparing the three poems it can be considered as a centre-point for comparison. The poem portrays a woman's fight for equality in a relationship but even this step of bravery is blighted by her fear of her patriarchal spouse, rather than making demands she feels that she must first ask and also tempt her 'lover;' to stay with her. It is about a woman ?stating conditions for marriage to her husband. The use of the ?conditional tense throughout the poem makes the poem appear like a ?marriage contract. This is striking because it contains the conditions ?of a marriage contract but from a woman. This would seem extremely odd ?at that period of as women were treated as subservient and marriage ?contracts would be made with men's interests at heart.

The poem itself contains many subtle paradoxes, which show that despite the poetic voice's attempt at equality it exposes her underlying fear of her partner's patriarchal power. The title contains multiple connotations