Mrs Beast

Mrs Beast is based around the idea of women dominance verses women's insecurity. Mrs Beast as a title is very ambiguous because it can give the reader a range of idea's and thoughts into the opening of the poem.

allows from first hand glance for the reader to literately believe that woman are beasts as in relation to women's dominance over men. However is this really true because it could be argued that she is called Mrs Beast because of her masculine qualities and relating to the overall female body as the 'laddette' culture, which is a modern day term for a female who withholds masculine qualities. 'These myths; I'll put them straight'.

opening verse to the poem is very appropriate I feel for the whole Carol Ann Duffy collection because from Carol Ann Duffy's viewpoint, as a feminist she is her own voice within her poems to voice her own opinion through her characters.

Such as Mrs Beast. 'Helen's Face, Juliet's...Nefertiti's, Mona Lisa's' Within Mrs Beast, Duffy gives a short list of fictional and mythical female characters. All of these women have been loved and known by men because of there outside beauty.

Here Duffy is generalising about women's need to look good for men. Then Duffy goes on to talk about The Little Mermaid who again like the other beautiful women she was loved because of her beauty but not only this but she also changed herself physically for a man. 'got up and walked in agony'

This is almost as if Duffy is amused by the lengths of which women will go to, to please a man. 'In fishnet tights' Like many of Duffy's phases they can be argued from different viewpoints. In my opinion I think that this is Duffy using visual imagery to describe how women are caught by men or otherwise caught up by men in there own selfish ways.

However some critics may argue that the meaning of this is literal also the whole visual image gives a provocative portrayal of women as a whole to be prostitute like and cheap Duffy's has the use of very colloquial language when she writes is almost as if she's talking amongst

Links with other women

Female takes on traditionally masculine role

Explicitly feminine stance.

Uses a traditionally masculine voice

portrays a male/female relationship

sexually explicit.

Despite how a person may look on the outside, beauty comes from within. Carol Ann Duffy's dramatic monologue, 'Mrs Beast' is a complete contrast to the original fairytale.

The Beast in the original is misunderstood but kind, loving and generous, as he is in Duffy's version. 'Belle'on the other hand has transformed from a kind and loving, young girl that views the world with childlike innocence, into an independent, cold hearted, power hungry, sadist.

he introduces herself firstly by comparing her beauty to that of other beautiful and influential women throughout history"...stare into my face -Helen's face, Cleopatra's,...Gaze into my eyes -Nefertiti's, Mona Lisa's, Garbo's..." These are all beautiful women who's downfalls were caused indirectly, by the actions of the men in their lives.

Mrs Beast continues and tells the reader to"...think again." Implying that although she is as beautiful as these women, she is not to be underestimated, she is not like them and will not befall the same fate.

the first stanza comes to an end you are already witness to Mrs Beasts resentment towards the male species, she makes a mockery of 'The Little Mermaid', who alters herself in order to impress the Prince. Through the use of alliteration she describes the ordeal of The Mermaids transformation, she 'slits' "...her shining, silver tail in two, rubbed salt/ into that stinking wound, got up and walked," and then despite the agony, stands, puts on a smile and dances for the Prince, only for him to throw her overboard. "they're bastards when they're Princes."

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.

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.