Examine the way Carol Ann Duffy presents relationships in ‘Valentine’. Refer to other poems about relationships in your answer.

This essay will be exploring the use of language and imagery in the poem ‘Valentine’ by Carol Ann Duffy to emphasise certain emotions within the text. This poem refers to the dark side of love and relationships several times, for example; “Its fierce kiss will stay on your lips.” This creates a different atmosphere to the stereotypical love poems, which are known for their mention of red roses and satin hearts. Although the title gives us an impression of a cliché-filled poem, as we continue reading, the poem seems like more of a warning than an encouragement to involve oneself in relationships and commitment, such as; “It will blind you with tears”.
It will also be analysing the notorious ‘Sonnet 18’ written by Shakespeare, which is renowned for its reference to love and relationships of the kind. This sonnet also mentions the negative side of relationships for instance; “But thy eternal summer shall not fade”. ‘Sonnet 43’ by Elizabeth Barret Browning will also be looked at as a factor of comparison. Unlike the prior two pieces mentioned, this sonnet emphasises the delirious emotions that love entails. However, this sonnet also ends with the drawbacks of such emotions, similar to ‘Valentine’ and ‘Sonnet 18’.
From the initial line of Duffy’s ‘Valentine’ a sense of negativity is introduced, which is continued throughout the poem. We are drawn into the poem with the line; “Not a red rose or a satin heart”. She has used this imagery of typical Valentine’s Day gifts to bring to light the choice in presents used to symbolise a person’s love for another. These same symbols of love are universally used, suggesting that each person’s relationship involves the same experience, which Duffy is disagreeing with. She has emphasised the overuse of such objects, and later refers to “cute cards and kissograms” to strengthen this point. She is implying that these untrustworthy symbols of ‘love’ do not create a unique symbol for two people’s love.
The use of first person allows the reader to feel a sense of inclusion, as does the use of the word “Here” to commence the second stanza. This stand-alone word creates a question in the reader’s mind of what happened ‘here’ to influence the writing of the poem. It also offers the sense that momentarily, Duffy is trapped in her own thoughts of an experience she is warning people against, as it is followed by a warning to the reader that is filled with nostalgia; “It will make your reflection a wobbling photo of grief.”
The layout of this poem is unstructured and contains little rhythm. This suggests that the reader has just caught a train of thought from Duffy’s mind and evokes the sense of stream of consciousness. The long, significant pauses create an air of catharsis, as if Duffy is attempting to eliminate the emotions from her past relationships by pausing to remember the experience she had. Rhymes or alliteration are not included in this poem, perhaps to implicate that just as the message she is trying to portray does not need to be ‘dressed up’ with poetical devices, neither does a relationship need “cute cards and kissograms” for it to be real. This layout makes the point seem more sincere and unplanned, supporting the notion that a relationship cannot be planned. This point is supported with the use of the word “truthful” because this poem does not look at love through rose-tinted glasses, but gives the honest words of a real experience; there is no reason for her to exaggerate or lie. But most of all, this formless arrangement symbolises that a relationship does not have a fixed plan or pattern, it is unpredictable and unique to each couple.
‘Valentine’ also contains the extended metaphor of love being an ‘onion’ which is continued throughout the stanzas. This use of language and continuous referral back to the term ‘onion’ strengthens the idea that everything Duffy is attempting to depict comes under the notion that love is all about layers. As the poem continues, it is as though the reader is delving deeper into the layers of relationships. The use of the detached word “Lethal” in the final stanza suggests that this is the core to the emotion of love, and the surface to the surrounding layers is red roses and satin hearts.
We can compare ‘Valentine’ to ‘Sonnet 18’ written by William Shakespeare and ‘Sonnet 43’ by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Despite having to perhaps read more deeply into ‘Sonnet 18’ to understand its purpose, we can see from the first line; “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” that it is of a romantic genre. This line can also be linked to ‘Romeo and Juliet’ perhaps suggesting that Shakespeare has emotional attachments to the message he is attempting to articulate, as he uses this motive in more than one of his pieces. Whilst the opening greets us with a warm welcome and the perception that it will continue to express a contented vibe, a turning point of “But...” is introduced. It then goes on to use immortality as a comparison to relationships, for example; “Nor shall Death brag thou wander’st in his shade.” This mention of demise can also be associated with the plot of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ supporting the point made earlier. Giving the inanimate object of “Death” a capital letter is a use of personification that proposes the idea to the reader that death is living, and it is always something to be feared.
“Sonnet 43” also grabs the reader’s attention with a question that is later answered. The use of the first person, for instance; “I love thee to the depth and breadth and height” gives the audience a sense of inclusion, unlike ‘Sonnet 18’. This makes the sonnet more personal and easier to relate to, similar to ‘Valentine’. The reader is given the same feeling as they have in ‘Valentine’ where the author’s train of thought is being read, unlike ‘Sonnet 18’ where more consideration has gone into the quality of writing and structure. The use of the word “saints” can be linked with the religious references also made in ‘Sonnet 18’, for example; “heaven”.
Maybe, unlike ‘Valentine’, these sonnets begin on a positive note because they feel as though death is not the worst case scenario, because God will be there, and therefore a relationship is worth the struggle. However, ‘Valentine’ makes no religious references, and therefore to the author, an unsuccessful commitment that may end tragically is not to be practised; we have ourselves to look after. But the one major link between the three pieces is the fatal ending that is mentioned. Analysing these pieces of literature has taught me that we, as individuals, must approach relationships in the way that is best suited to our own needs. Each piece has a story behind it that has influenced the text, however opinions change based on experienced, which is shown through the difference in language and structure in each piece. However, the message that is consistent throughout not only the three pieces, but throughout relationships also, is that if it all goes wrong, the feelings may be tragic.