The manner in which Duffy presents Mrs Beast makes it obvious that the dark humour, satire and puns shown throughout the poem are intentional and the opinion of Mrs Beast herself, she is that kind of person. Her mockery and references to the ‘stinking’ fishy ‘wound‘, the ‘fish’ ‘net’ tights and throwing the mermaid overboard - back to the sea - reflect her amusement at the stupidity of other females. Yet at the same time, she has obviously experienced this situation herself: “I could have told her - look, love, I should know,”
In the second stanza Mrs Beast approaches the House of the Beast, she seems sure of herself - or wants to give that impression - she is independent, knows her own mind and is prepared to leave at the hint of any negative attitude from the Beast. The Beast expresses his gratitude by falling to his knees and kissing her glove “…with his mongrel lips - good” and tears in his eyes, “..he knew he was blessed - better“. The ending statements show that this pleases her, as does his erection which is the “..size of a mule‘s - best.” It is obvious from Mrs Beast reaction to each of his declarations of adoration that it is his erection and her power over him that impresses her most, and seeing as she already has wealth and beauty those are the very reasons that she is here.
Mrs Beast reinforces the imagery of her power in the third stanza. She informs us that she is in charge as she tells the reader “The lady says Do this. Harder. The lady says Do that .Faster.” The pig in her bed was “invited.” and if he fouled the sheets “…then, he’d wash them. Twice.” Despite the Beasts subservience and his desire to please, Mrs Beast is continuously cruel with the style in which she describes him, and you can imagine that she addresses him in the same manner. She describes him as being “ugly as sin“ and seems in some ways repulsed when referring to his breath being that of a goat, “…his horrid leather tongue“ scouring between her toes and “…his hooked and yellow claws..“ Mrs Beasts graphic description is successful in transferring her repulsion to the reader/listener. Why would a strong, independent women choose to set up home with a disgusting Beast of a man? Mrs Beast reminds you of her reasoning in the final lines of this stanza, the Beast favours that of a well endowed, wild animal in the bedroom: “Here was a bit of him like a horse, a ram/ an ape, a wolf, a dog, a donkey, dragon, dinosaur/ Need I say more?”
Unsurprisingly Mrs Beasts associates are just as strong, independent and successful as she is, and it is obvious through her expressions that she rates herself and these other women highly : “I watched those wonderful women…” “We were hard school, tough as fuck, all of us beautiful and rich” “Bad girls. Serious ladies.” Mrs Beast implies that for every strong, independent women, there will be another that has been negatively affected by mans actions. “..behind each player stood a line of ghosts/ unable to win.” Duffy ensures that this hits home by including well known, historical and fictional characters from varying era’s “Eve…Marilyn Monroe…Snow White, Diana Princess of Wales.”
Mrs Beasts Poker nights add a contemporary feel to the poem, and like other poems featured in ’The Worlds Wife’ draw you back to modern day. The words and layout used during the Poker game allow you to feel the rising tension in the air during play.
Throughout the game the Beast has been completely forgotten, by both Mrs Beast and her listeners, he is unimportant and dismissed from sight and thought unless needed. He ‘sheepishly’ returns to the table in order to deliver drinks.
In the final stanza Mrs Beast makes a comment: “..words for the lost, the captive beautiful, the wives, those less fortunate than we.” Duffy may be using this sentence in reference to the other wives within the book who were less fortunate. Mrs Beast is definitely directing her passage at a female audience, when talking to her listeners she refers to them as “..girls.” she is instructing female listeners to take heed and listen to her advice “…they’re bastards when they’re Princes./ What you want to do is find yourself a Beast” She implies that good looking guys will treat you badly, whereas the ugly ones are not only better in bed but will also do as they’re told. Mrs Beast rebels against a male dominated society, she doesn’t want to be perceived as the weak female. She ensures that ‘she’ is the dominate one in all aspects of their relationship. She has successfully maintained her independence and power, yet goes to the extreme and develops the same aggressive male traits that she herself has judged. In order to protect her own insecurities, Mrs Beast has become cold hearted and unfeeling “Let the less loving one be me.“ She treats the Beast this way, not only because he allows her, but because if she loves him less, then she herself cannot be hurt.