Mrs. Midas by Carol Ann Duffy Short Essay
Introduction:
Mrs. Midas is a poem from Carol Ann Duffy’s 1999 collection The World’s Wife. It is based on the Greek myth of King Midas, who was granted the power to turn everything he touched into gold. Instead of showing Midas as a mythical king, the poem presents him as a normal man whose greed destroys his life and marriage.
A Strange Discovery
One evening in September, Mrs. Midas is enjoying a peaceful time in her kitchen when she notices something unusual outside. Her husband is under a pear tree, breaking a twig that looks like gold. Then he picks a pear, and it glows like a light bulb. When he comes inside, everything he touches turns to gold—the doorknobs, the curtains, and even the furniture.
The Curse of Gold:
During dinner, Midas spits out golden corn kernels, turns the silverware to gold, and his wine glass into a goblet. He admits that he made a wish to turn everything he touched into gold and it came true. Mrs. Midas is terrified. She realizes that gold is useless.
Leaving Him Behind
That night, she sleeps separately, fearing his touch could turn her to gold. Realizing she cannot live with him, she takes him to a remote place. He loses his mind, believing he hears the Greek god Pan. She moves on but sometimes remembers him.
Conclusion:
His wish was selfish, and it ruined their life. In the end, she does not miss his wealth but the warmth of his human touch.
Themes:
Greed and Its Consequences
Love and Loss
Loneliness and Isolation
Power and Its Dangers
Materialism vs. Emotional Connection
Selfishness in Relationships
The Fragility of Human Life
Myth and Modern Reality
Female Perspective and Voice
Transformation and Regret
Mrs. Midas by Carol Ann Duffy in Tamil @Banumathi K's Literature Insights 👇
Mrs. Midas by Carol Ann Duffy Detailed Essay
Introduction:
Mrs. Midas is a poem from Carol Ann Duffy’s 1999 collection The World’s Wife. This particular poem presents the Greek myth of King Midas, who was granted the ability to turn everything he touched into gold. However, instead of portraying him as a mythical figure, the poem reimagines him as a normal, modern man, exploring the consequences of his wish from his wife’s perspective.
A Normal Evening at Home:
The story begins near the end of September. Mrs. Midas is relaxing after a long day, enjoying a glass of wine while cooking dinner. The kitchen smells wonderful, and everything feels peaceful.
Confusion and Doubt:
As she wipes the steam off the window, she looks outside and sees her husband under a pear tree. He is breaking a small twig, but something looks odd—it appears to be made of gold. The yard is large, and it is getting dark, so she is not sure if she is seeing things correctly. Then, she sees him pick a pear, and it glows like a light bulb in his hand. She wonders if he is decorating the tree with lights.
Everything Turns to Gold:
When her husband comes inside, everything he touches starts shining. The doorknobs, the curtains—everything turns to gold. The curtains reminded her of the Field of the Cloth of Gold, a historical event where the Kings of England and France brought a lot of gold fabric to impress each other. It also made her think of Miss Macready, a character from a British TV series who had bright gold-colored hair.
Midas Acts Like a King:
He sits down with an arrogant look, like a king on a golden throne. When she asks what is happening, he just laughs instead of answering her.
Dinner Becomes a Nightmare:
During dinner, things get even stranger. He spits out corn on the cob, which now looks like golden teeth. When he picks up his silverware, it turns to gold. The final proof comes when she pours him wine, and it turns into a golden goblet. He finally admits that he made a wish, and it came true. Mrs. Midas is horrified.
Fear and Distance:
She quickly realizes how dangerous his new power is. She locks the cat in the basement, moves the phone away from him, and makes him sit across the room. She doesn’t care when he turns the toilet into gold, but she is shocked by his foolishness.
Gold is Useless:
She thinks about what gold is really like—it cannot be eaten or drunk. It is just a shiny, lifeless metal. When he tries to smoke, the cigarette turns into gold. She sarcastically jokes that at least now he can quit smoking.
Sleeping in Separate Rooms:
That night, she is so scared that she puts a chair against the door to keep him out. He sleeps in the guest room, but soon, it looks like a golden tomb, just like the tomb of King Tutankhamun. She remembers how close they used to be, but now she fears his touch.
A Terrifying Dream:
She dreams that she gives birth to a golden baby. Its arms, legs, and even its eyes are made of gold. Her milk burns her because it, too, has turned into gold. She wakes up feeling terrified.
Realizing Her Husband’s Greed:
She understands that no one can survive with a heart made of gold. She feels like she married a greedy fool who ruined everything for wealth.
Leaving Midas Behind:
She cannot live with him anymore, so she takes him to a remote place in the woods and leaves him in a mobile home. She visits him sometimes, but each time she goes, she sees more golden animals—fish in the grass and a rabbit hanging from a tree.
Midas Loses His Mind:
Her husband has become thin and delusional. He believes he can hear the Greek god Pan playing music in the trees. This makes her realize she cannot stay in his life any longer.
Moving On, But Not Forgetting/
Conclusion:
What hurts her most is that he made the wish without thinking about her. His selfishness destroyed their life together. She sells all the gold and moves on, but sometimes, small things remind her of him. One day, she sees a bowl of apples and remembers him. Even after everything, what she misses the most is not his wealth but the simple warmth of his hands and his touch.
Mrs. Midas by Carol Ann Duffy in Tamil @Banumathi K's Literature Insights 👇
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