Adultery

• A02: "where the slicing of innocent onions/ scalds you to tears"

  • metaphor representing the ending of the relationship and the tears are a result of this.
  • connotes ideas of pain and hurt as these are sharp and slow movements, reflecting how the relationship has ended
  • sibilance of 'slicing' and 'scalds' implies pain and betrayal which has been caused perhaps on purpose.
  • these are both ways that leave scars and permanent damage
  • onions cause pain as a way of self defence perhaps conveys which the persona was trying to do
• A02: "crumbles like a wedding cake"

  • simile represents the metaphorical ending of this relationship as it has 'crumbled'.
  • wedding cake portrays marriage, connection and union but this crumbling shows that the foundations of this relationship are beyond repair.
  • crumbling is a slow process and pieces are unable to be put back together, they will never be the same.
  • comparison - just like Larkins relationship was doomed from the beginning as he had a fantasy from the very start.
• A03: Duffy is trying to sympathise with someone has been cheated on. She portrays the different ways in which people love and she challenges the meaning of love constantly throughout her poems.
• A05: "she writes of life and is not afraid to tackle the sadness or suffering that accompanies it"

  • links to adultery as Duffy is not afraid to talk about the suffering that comes from being cheated on.