Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Mrs Quasimodo" by Carol Ann Duffy is a dark, visceral poem from her collection "The World's Wife," where she gives voice to the traditionally silent or marginalized women of history and myth. In this poem, Duffy imagines the life of the fictional wife of Quasimodo, the hunchback bell-ringer from Victor Hugo’s "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame." The poem provides a raw and painful insight into Mrs. Quasimodo's experience, reflecting on themes of love, rejection, self-loathing, and revenge.

The poem begins with Mrs. Quasimodo's deep affection for the bells of Notre Dame, which provided solace during her painful childhood as an outcast. Her love for the bells is described in almost religious terms, a sanctuary from the cruelty of the world. This attachment to the bells is a significant aspect of her identity and shapes her relationship with Quasimodo, whom she meets in the bell tower.

The initial meeting with Quasimodo is depicted with a blend of excitement and trepidation. Their relationship begins with a primal connection under the bells, and they quickly marry. However, the marriage does not lead to a romantic fairy tale. Instead, it becomes the stage for deep emotional pain and disillusionment. Mrs. Quasimodo’s physical deformities, which initially seemed to be a bond between her and Quasimodo, soon become a source of contempt in his eyes, reflecting the harsh judgments of society at large.

As their relationship deteriorates, Mrs. Quasimodo's self-image crumbles, exacerbated by Quasimodo's wandering eye and the contrast between her appearance and that of the beautiful women he admires. Her initial feelings of inadequacy deepen into self-loathing, and she internalizes the societal view of her physical appearance as monstrous. Duffy portrays her psychological turmoil and descent into despair with brutal honesty, capturing her internalized hatred and the physical self-harm she inflicts upon herself.

The climax of the poem is Mrs. Quasimodo's act of vengeance on the bells, which she associates both with her initial connection to Quasimodo and with her subsequent pain and rejection. In a grotesque and violent sequence, she mutilates the bells, ripping out their "tongues" and thus silencing the objects of her husband's affection. This act of destruction is both a symbolic murder of her marriage and a reclaiming of agency through the silencing of the bells that once defined her life.

The ending of the poem is chilling and powerful. Mrs. Quasimodo sits among the ruins of the bells, covered in blood and urine, a stark image of defiance and devastation. Her act of revenge brings her no peace but instead a deeper entrenchment in her isolation and misery.

"Mrs Quasimodo" is a profound exploration of the destructive impact of societal beauty standards and the deep-seated pain of feeling unlovable and unworthy. Duffy’s use of vivid, often jarring imagery and the raw emotional depth of the narrative invite the reader to empathize with Mrs. Quasimodo's plight, challenging the traditional narrative of Quasimodo as the sole figure of tragedy in the story. Through this poem, Duffy amplifies the voice of a character who, though fictional, represents the silenced and marginalized, making a powerful statement about acceptance, love, and the human condition.

POEM TEXT: https://africmglinchey.wordpress.com/2013/01/25/mrs-quasimodo-by-carol-ann-duffy/

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