Carol Ann Duffy often uses unconventional objects to explore love. Rather than relying on typical symbols like roses or hearts, she chooses items that feel unexpected, giving her poems a unique perspective. In this post, I will consider how she represents different facets of love: perseverance in Valentine, sexual desire in Anne Hathaway, and vulnerability in Delilah.

In Valentine, the onion stands out as the central symbol. The poem opens with “Not a red rose or a satin heart,” immediately rejecting commercial and clichéd expressions of affection. The speaker then offers “I give you an onion,” a surprising choice that literary critics like Quinn describe as “certainly unusual.” Through similes such as “It promises light, like the careful undressing of love,” Duffy conveys that love is a process of discovery, rather than a simple gift. She also acknowledges love’s challenges: “It will blind you with tears, like a lover,” showing that love can be painful and difficult. Finally, the poem concludes with the word “Lethal,” reflecting how love can consume and transform us entirely.

In Anne Hathaway, Duffy explores love through desire, using the symbol of the bed. Shakespeare’s wife reflects on their intimacy, describing the bed as “a spinning world of…”—a place where love and passion create an almost magical space. The poem contrasts this intimacy with the plainness of everyday life, highlighting that it is not the circumstances we are given but how we experience them that shapes love. The closing couplet, “I hold him in the casket of my widow’s head / as he held me upon that next best bed,” captures how love and desire endure beyond death, emphasizing their lasting significance.

Finally, Delilah examines vulnerability and masculinity. Here, Duffy uses multiple symbols, with the scissors serving as a key object. Samson’s strength and conventional masculinity are contrasted with moments of vulnerability, such as when he reveals his scar. Delilah’s act of cutting his hair becomes a gesture of love that frees him from the constant expectation of strength, showing that true connection requires openness and trust.

Through these poems, Duffy demonstrates that love is complex and multifaceted. By rejecting traditional symbols, she emphasizes the intimacy and individuality of love, whether through struggle, desire, or empathy. Her use of symbolism allows readers to explore love in its many forms, making it both tangible and deeply human.