Compare the ways poets explore the parent relationship in four of the poems you have studied
In the poems presented, the main theme of parent and child relationships can be clearly illustrated. For example, Catrin which is composed by Gillian Clarke emphasises the theme of how powerful the bond is between parents and children. This point can be clearly addressed as Clarke provides the perfect metaphor ‘Red rope of love which we both fought over.’ The use of such a graphic metaphor highlights how humans have an instinctive need to protect their children. Furthermore, by a mother remembering such a graphic event at child birth in particular the vocabulary ‘red rope’ shows how bearing a child is one of the great duties of life. Furthermore, this moment of becoming a mother addresses the theme of how important children and parent relationships are. However in contrast, Seamus Heaney who wrote Digging isn’t addressing the point of child birth with the use of quite graphic vocabulary. Instead Heaney highlights the main theme of parent and Child relationships with tradition with the use of the metaphor ‘I’ll dig with it’. The use of presenting this quote as the last line emphasises how he respects his father’s ability to provide. Which on line fifteen is sophisticatedly composed ‘By God, the old man could handle a spade.’ This quote highlights how he idealises his father suggesting that Digging is another poem based on the instinct between the bond of parents and family. In huge contrast to both these poems, Johnson who presents On my First Sonne addresses the poem as an epitaph. The use of the structure being an epitah highlights the theme of parent and child relationships. This particular theme can be highlighted as it emphasises the emotions of a parent bidding farewell to his seven year old child. The quote which can highlight my point is ‘Farewell, thou child of my right hand, and joy.’ This quote emphasises the theme quite clearly as it uses the words ‘child of my right hand, and joy’ these words highlight that there is a strong bond between poet and child which is the main theme of child and parent relationship. However, even though it uses the following theme like the other poems. There is a contrast from Clarke and Heaney as this is a poem mourning the relationship which Jonson treasures ‘my right hand, and joy.’ Just like Jonson’s poem, The affliction of Magaret also deals with loss. However, instead of mourning the death of a child it presents a mother who laments the loss of her son at sea. This poem relates to the theme of parent and child relationships as it shows just like Catrin the duties of a mother. Implying that by the pain and suffering of any mother at child birth such as Magaret you start to worry and assume the worst. ‘Where art thou, my beloved son, Where art thou, worse to me than dead?’ This quote highlights the worry of a mother and that like Clarke and Johnson it emphasises the parent and child relationship through mourning like Johnson and by her past memories as her attitude of her son just like in Catrin.
