Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Mrs Aesop" by Carol Ann Duffy is a clever, sardonic poem that reimagines the life of Aesop's wife, giving voice to her frustrations and boredom with her husband's moralistic storytelling. Through this monologue, Duffy explores themes of marital dissatisfaction, the tedium of predictability, and the stifling nature of being in a relationship with someone who is more concerned with lessons than with living.

The poem begins with Mrs. Aesop's blunt and humorous declaration of her husband's dullness: "By Christ, he could bore me for Purgatory." This sets the tone for a narrative filled with witty but biting commentary on Aesop's character and their domestic life. She describes Aesop as a man who lacked presence and tried to compensate by making everything a lesson, something that clearly exasperates her.

Duffy skillfully uses Aesop’s own fables against him, twisting the familiar morals to highlight Mrs. Aesop's frustrations. For instance, she sarcastically remarks on the fable of the bird in the hand, pointing out that the bird "shat on his sleeve," undermining the intended moral with a dose of grimy reality. This pattern continues as she mocks Aesop’s habit of drawing morals from everything they encounter—from a shy mouse to a sly fox, to a single swallow—implying his pedantic nature leaves no room for simple enjoyment of life or each other’s company.

The mention of a "slow as a marriage" tortoise creeping up the road cleverly plays on the fable of the tortoise and the hare, while simultaneously commenting on the slow deterioration of their marriage. Mrs. Aesop's interjection, "Asshole," immediately after Aesop's moralizing, punctuates her impatience and the bitterness that has crept into their relationship.

Mrs. Aesop’s recount of their evening strolls and the predictability of Aesop’s observations points to a deeper disconnect between them. Her life with Aesop is portrayed as monotonous and uninspiring, filled with clichéd morals rather than genuine emotional connection. This is further emphasized in her critique of their sexual relationship, which she dismissively calls "diabolical."

In a moment of rebellion, Mrs. Aesop recounts giving Aesop a taste of his own medicine by telling him a fable of her own about a "little cock that wouldn't crow," using his language of fables to criticize his sexual prowess and ultimately threatening to "cut off your tail, all right, I said, to save my face." This is both a humorous and sharply vindictive retort that illustrates her frustration and desire to assert herself in a relationship dominated by Aesop’s moralizing voice.

The poem concludes with Mrs. Aesop laughing "last, longest," suggesting that despite her frustrations, she finds some empowerment in having the last word, turning the tables on Aesop by using his own method against him.

"Mrs Aesop" is a brilliant example of Carol Ann Duffy’s ability to give voice to historically silent or sidelined figures, reimagining them with depth, agency, and a rich sense of personal narrative. Through Mrs. Aesop, Duffy critiques not just a marriage but the broader implications of living with someone who reduces life to lessons rather than living it in its messy reality.

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