This indicates he has no friends nor family because nobody would steal a snowman unless they are mentally disturbed where as in this case that could be the answer.
Whereas in the second poem, “War Photographer”, Duffy describes the actions of the character. Because in this poem the war photographer is wanted by everyone for his pictures so people will know what is going on in the world and also the agony of pain in the photo’s Carol shows this by saying
“In his darkroom he is finally alone with spools of suffering set out in ordered rows”.
This also shows how sick and twisted the War Photographer is to take pictures of dying people whilst their loved one’s are watching.
Each Poem explores the characters emotions. In “Stealing” the thief reveals the fact that he is a very sick man with no friends, family or life.
“Part of the thrill was, knowing children would cry in the mourning”.
This is proof of the statement made above showing how sad his life is so he has to make other peoples life’s a misery.
The reader is also able to question the motives and attitudes of each character because they both must have some reasons for taking such sick and twisted actions.
Duffy is asking the reader to make judgements about the characters through showing their weaknesses and flaws and by knowing the weaknesses of the characters the reader is able to analyse on the way the character acts which therefore allows them to have thoughts and opinions about the character.
Duffy begins and ends “Stealing” with a question which allows the reader to establish what the character is trying to say and this therefore makes the reader want to go on. When the reader gets to the end and a question is put forward to them then that makes them go through it again and try an answer the question in their head.
The structure of this piece is very unique in the sense that the reader can really get a grip on what the character is saying because the way Carol Ann Duffy has set the poem out so first the character begins with a question then he tells the reader about his private work and what he does and he finishes it all off with a question to see if the reader was paying attention.
In “War Photographer”, meanwhile the development of ideas is more open and realistic. Because in this poem the character is saying things to the reader like they just look at the paper and the next week if somebody mentions it then they don’t care anymore
“The readers eyeball’s prick with tears between the bath and pre-lunch beers”.
The character thinks they don’t really care about his work which he broke people’s hearts to get for the readers and he feels he is lonely and not appreciated.
The structure of both poems therefore reflects the state of mind of the characters.
In conclusion, Duffy succeeds in making these characters interesting through allowing the reader to explore their thoughts and feelings. She does this by showing the reader two very weird and sad people and gives them motives to try and make it out as what they are doing is right.
Arjun Sian 10 Orange
