Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Pygmalion's Bride" by Carol Ann Duffy is a poignant and evocative poem that reimagines the classical myth of Pygmalion from the perspective of the statue, Galatea. In the original myth, Pygmalion is a sculptor who falls in love with a statue he has created, and his love is so profound that the goddess Aphrodite brings the statue to life. Duffy's interpretation, however, presents a darker and more complex exploration of themes such as objectification, consent, and autonomy.

The poem begins with the statue describing herself as "Cold, I was, like snow, like ivory." This sets the tone for her existence—she is an object, devoid of warmth or life, created for the visual and tactile pleasure of her creator, Pygmalion. Despite her lifelessness, she is acutely aware of her surroundings and Pygmalion's actions, saying, "I thought / He will not touch me, but he did." This line introduces the violation of her boundaries and the unwanted advances she endures.

The statue narrates her experiences in the first person, giving voice to an entity typically seen as passive and without agency. She describes Pygmalion's actions as invasive and unwelcome, from kissing her "stone-cool lips" to running his "clammy hands along my limbs." The tactile imagery emphasizes the physicality of the interaction, contrasting sharply with her immobility and emotional detachment.

As Pygmalion becomes more insistent, bringing gifts and professing affection, the statue remains unresponsive, "played statue, shtum" (silent), using her immutability as a defense mechanism. Her descriptions of Pygmalion's words as "terrible" and his gifts as "girly things" reflect her distaste and lack of interest in his attempts to humanize or romanticize their interaction.

Despite Pygmalion's efforts to elicit a response, the statue remains impervious to his touches and words. Her reference to her ears as "stone-deaf shells" and drowning him out with the sound of the sea suggests her inner resistance and her desire to remain disconnected from his advances.

The climax of the poem comes when the statue decides to change tactics. She describes becoming animated and responsive, "grew warm, like candle wax, / kissed back, was soft, was pliable." This shift in her behavior is a strategic act, performed to regain control over the situation. She feigns passion, "begged for his child," and ultimately "screamed my head off - all an act." This dramatic response serves as a breaking point, effectively driving Pygmalion away, as she concludes, "And haven’t seen him since. / Simple as that."

"Pygmalion's Bride" is a powerful critique of the objectification and idealization of women, portraying the statue as both a victim and a resilient agent of her own liberation. Through this narrative, Duffy challenges traditional interpretations of the myth, highlighting the problematic dynamics of power and control inherent in Pygmalion's desire to create and possess the perfect woman. The statue's ultimate act of deception to free herself underscores themes of autonomy and the refusal to be defined or confined by others' desires and expectations.

POEM TEXT: https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=3803775

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