In kid, the absent presence is used because it allows the emotions of Robin to be displayed in full; and the poem remains like a rant at Batman for rejecting Robin. This can also be seen in the structure of the poem where no paragraphing exists which symbolises the fact that Robin is not taking a breath in between his sentences maybe because he is worried that if he pauses, Batman might turn him away again before he has had the chance to finish. Also, the structure displays that Robin is so furious that all his emotions explode out of him. In addition, the end of each sentence rhymes which builds a tremendous pace in the poem assisting the rage of Robin. Thus, it is not a coincidence that Robin opens his outburst using plosives, “Batman, big shot.”Robin wants it to be obvious that what follows that opening will be in his defence.
In Havisham, the structure of the poem is such that it is laid out in four equal length paragraphs. This could be to create the effect that the persona is reflecting on what she is saying, and it doesn’t seem like a rant towards the absent presence; however she is fooling herself because the use of enjambment means it is read as one long paragraph. This mirrors the persona’s own thoughts because she fools herself thinking that she will gain revenge and wishes for it, but never gets a result. “Prayed for it so hard I’ve dark green pebbles for eyes.” The absent presence is almost killing her even though he is not there to cause pain. This connotes precisely how much pain Havisham is experiencing because she is deteriorating at the hands of haunting memories, and she is willing to go through much more just to cause him a small amount of suffering; the absent presence releases her desperation.
In both My Last Duchess and Hitcher, the absent presences are presented as nature loving, free people. In My Last Duchess, the Duchess is said to have loved “The dropping of the daylight in the west.” However the Duke says this in a mocking tone which portrays to the reader that he does not approve of what the absent presence enjoys, and the heavy sound of the “d’s” assist that due to the twist of sarcasm it adds. Similarly in Hitcher, the persona says, “He said he was following the sun from the west to east.” The absent presence sounds liberated and as though he has no worries.
Both personas kill their absent presences as if by routine, and as if it was their right to. In Hitcher, the persona says, “I let him have it ... Once with the head and six times with the Krooklok in the face.” The first section of the quote is very ambiguous and emotionless, and then he describes what he did as if he is proud of it, and as though it is something very routine and normal. The repetitive structure of the poem also reflects his routine life which indicates that he is amoral. In My Last Duchess, the Duke says, “This grew; I gave commands; then all smiles stopped together.” The Duke killed her as though she was his possession and because he felt he had been disrespected. Ironically, the poem is written in rhyming couplets presumably to make the death sound beautiful; but only adds a sadistic twist. One difference is that the Duke still felt betrayed and unhappy about the Duchess disrespecting him, but the persona in Hitcher had almost forgotten that he had just murdered someone.
Both personas mock the death of their absent presence. In My Last Duchess, the Duke says, “Looking as if she were alive.” He says this mockingly and with pride because he feels as though he had gotten his revenge, however she might still appear alive to him because of her vibrant soul that shines out of the painting. In Hitcher, the persona says, “He’d said he liked the breeze to run its fingers through his hair.” The persona sounds like he is trying to justify his act, but he doesn’t need to justify it to anyone because he gives the impression as thought he couldn’t care less. The absent presences in My Last Duchess and Hitcher are the innocent ones. The ones in Kid and Havisham are the culprits.
