Essays on The World's Wife

Carol Ann Duffy’s The World’s Wife is a collection of poems that imagines the inner lives and perspectives of women historically relegated to the margins of society. The title poem gives voice to the wives of history’s most famous men, from Eve to Mrs. Aesop to Mrs. Midas. These women share their own stories, which are often more interesting than their husbands’ accomplishments.Duffy also imagines the wives of mythological figures, such as Hades and Persephone, Orpheus and Eurydice, and Zeus and his many consorts. These poems offer a feminist retelling of familiar stories, in which the women take center stage.The World’s Wife also includes poems about real women, such as the aviator Amelia Earhart and the artist Frida Kahlo. These poems celebrate the accomplishments of these women, who defied societal expectations and paved the way for future generations.The World’s Wife is a funny, moving, and empowering collection of poems that offers a fresh perspective on the lives of women.