Social empathy within the dramatic monologues of Carol Ann Duffy

Abstract

This dissertation will look at the dramatic monologues of Carol Ann Duffy in order to explore how the dramatic monologue can inspire social empathy in the reader. The history of the dramatic monologue has a long tradition of poets appropriating the form to comment on social issues that the poets themselves felt they were unable to in their own voices. The monologue has been noted by Robert Langbaum, Alan Sinfield and others to have the ability to place the reader in the speaker’s circumstance. Why does this form seem to draw so many poets to it? Why does the dramatic monologue seem to be a natural fit for writing about social issues? The dramatic monologue seems to be a form that does not confirm or makes certain. It is a from that is more likely to question and to try and shake what is taken for granted. Carol Ann Duffy is part of this literary tradition and has mentioned in many of her interviews that she is interested in the human. Duffy has explored through her poetry how humanity has affected the individual and the world. The social issues she writes about will also be reviewed as ranging from the environment to society and how it affects the individual. This dissertation will explore how Duffy produces social empathy in her monologues. Duffy is not alone in her use of the dramatic monologue as a means of social critique. During the twenty first century many writers of the dramatic monologue have written poems with this aim in mind. Besides, Duffy, Ai’s work will also be looked so as to compare their works. Ai and Duffy seem to inspire social empathy in their readers, how this is done will also be explored.