Voice and Character in Mrs Midas and Valentine Tyler Mushinskie Maurice Del Rio

Mrs. Midas "It was late September. I’d just poured a glass of wine, begun to unwind, while the vegetables cooked. The kitchen filled with the smell of itself, relaxed, its steamy breath " - Carol Ann Duffy starts the poem calm, setting the scene with a warm mood. The words "unwind", "smell" and "relaxed" show Mrs. Midas's classy character who is described as a daily house wife. Personification is used with "its steamy breathe" signifying the relaxing voice of the character which could show to the readers that her relationship is currently good with her husband. "I served up the meal. For starters, corn on the cob. Within seconds he was spitting out the teeth of the rich." - Shows an arrogant change of her husband. Mr. Midas has to spit out the corn because it turns to gold which may present a humorous tone to the audience.

Mrs. Midas (Continued) It was then that I started to scream. He sank to his knees. After we’d both calmed down, I finished the wine on my own, hearing him out. I made him sit" - Negative tone between the two characters. Their relationship has gone to being aggressive and emotional shown when Mrs. Midas started to scream as her husband sank to his knees. Expressive voice of anger between the two "I sold the contents... I think of him in certain lights.... I miss most even now" - Very personal monologue with the use of personal pronouns. Gives a sense of a dramatic, deep and soulful tone from Mrs. Midas since she is describing the past which she misses.

Valentine "Not a red rose or a satin heart" - This immediately sets the tone of the poem by stating two stereotypes of love and how they will not be included, giving the impression that the poem will not be about the happy side of love, but rather the dark and emotional filled side. "I give you an onion" - This extended metaphor for the poem suggests Duffy's thoughts on love as that of an onion, wrapped in many layers that need to be unpeeled. Also, love could be thought of as ugly. "I am trying to be truthful" - This establishes the character of the poem as Duffy herself as she tries to get the reader to understand her and hear her out, trying to justify her own beliefs to the reader.

Valentine (continued) "It's fierce kiss will stay on your lips" - This negative connotation darkens the mood of the poem, suggesting deadliness, almost forcefulness through the use of "fierce". "Here... Take it..." - These two stops throughout the poem suggest that Duffy puts no emotion behind the concept of her gift of an onion. This also further emphasizes her interpretation of love as one that she puts no emotion behind. "Its scent will cling to your fingers...cling to your knife." - This presents the darkest tone throughout the poem as Duffy compares the ring of marriage to that of a knife, painfully and slowly destroying you. Also, the word "cling" suggests the desperation to hold to love