Salome – Carol Ann Duffy

I'd done it before (and doubtless I'll do it again,sooner or later) woke up with a head on the pillow beside me -whose? - what did it matter? Good- looking, of course, dark hair, rather matted;the reddish beard several shades lighter;with very deep lines around the eyes,from pain, I'd guess, maybe laughter; and a beautiful crimson mouth that obviously knewhow to flatter... which I kissed... Colder than pewter. Strange. What was his name? Peter? Simon? Andrew? John? I knew I'd feel betterfor tea, dry toast, no butter,so rang for the maid. And, indeed, her innocent clatterof cups and plates, her clearing of clutter,her regional patter, were just what needed - hungover and wrecked as I was from a night on the batter.

Never again! I needed to clean up my act, get fitter, cut out the booze and the fags and the sex. Yes. And as for the latter, it was time to turf out the blighter, the beater or biter, who'd come like a lamb to the slaughter to Salome's bed. In tile mirror, I saw my eyes glitter. I flung back the sticky red sheets, and there, like I said -and ain't life a bitch - was his head on a platter.

Who is Salome?

Salome is a woman in the New Testament. According to the Bible, Salome danced for Herod on his birthday. He was so impressed by her performance that he said she could have anything she wanted. She was prompted by her mother to ask for the head of John the Baptist after he was executed. The head was presented to her on a plate.

In this poem, Salome is presented as a cold, murderous woman in modern society. Duffy creates a modern persona for Salome.

I'd done it before (and doubtless I'll do it again,sooner or later) woke up with a head on the pillow beside me -whose? - what did it matter?

This is not the

first time this

has happened.

She doesn’t feel

any regret

because she

knows that she

will do it again.

She doesn’t know who the man is next to her and she doesn’t seem to care. She can’t remember who he is.

Good- looking, of course, dark hair, rather matted;the reddish beard several shades lighter;with very deep lines around the eyes,from pain, I'd guess, maybe laughter; and a beautiful crimson mouth that obviously knewhow to flatter... which I kissed... Colder than pewter.

These quotes sound normal – his hair is

matted, his beard is red, his lips are red.

But, we find out that the man is dead and

the colouring is from the blood stains.

Pewter = a type of metal.

This line makes the reader suspect the man is dead.

The tone of the

poem is casual.

Salome

sounds like

she’s having a

chat with a

friend. She

doesn’t seem

to take the

incident seriously.

Strange. What was his name? Peter? Simon? Andrew? John? I knew I'd feel betterfor tea, dry toast, no butter,so rang for the maid. And, indeed, her innocent clatterof cups and plates, her clearing of clutter,her regional patter,

She is trying to remember

the man’s name. Duffy uses

a list of biblical names –

these link to the story of

Salome.

The maid suggests that Salome is wealthy. The maid is making a lot of noise. This is emphasised by the use of

onomatopoeia.

were just what needed - hungover and wrecked as I was from a night on the batter.Never again! I needed to clean up my act, get fitter, cut out the booze and the fags and the sex.

This word has a double meaning – it could mean

she’s been drinking. Or, it could have a more literal,

violent meaning.

She is hungover from the night before. She says she will clean up her act and change her unhealthy lifestyle. Do you believe her?

Remember at the start of the poem she said she’d “do it again”. She uses informal language.

Yes. And as for the latter, it was time to turf out the blighter, the beater or biter, who'd come like a lamb to the slaughter to Salome's bed.

Alliteration – the ‘b’ sound is quite harsh. These words

suggest that Salome assumes the man is violent.

“lamb to the slaughter” is a Christian image of

innocence. This contrasts the previous line – now the man is

the victim.

In tile mirror, I saw my eyes glitter. I flung back the sticky red sheets, and there, like I said -and ain't life a bitch - was his head on a platter.

This could show her evil side. It could also show that she is

proud of what she’s done – she enjoyed what she did.

Salome doesn’t seem to care about what she’s done. She finally

reveals that the man is dead and only his head is in the bed. She

seems to enjoy letting the reader think she only slept with him –

then she reveals the truth.

Carol-Ann Duffy’s ‘Salome' in a nutshell!

• Salome has become a serial remover of heads.

• Having woken up with a severed head on the pillow, she cannot even remember the owner’s name!

• She calls for the maid, has breakfast and decides to clean up her life.

I'd done it before (and doubtless I'll do it again,sooner or later) woke up with a head on the pillow beside me -whose? what did it matter? Good- looking, of course, dark hair, rather matted;the reddish beard several shades lighter;

Initially there doesn’t seem anything amiss. Many people

wake up in bed with a stranger in the modern world. However,

knowledge of the original Salome makes the words

profoundly shocking.

Serial killer

An arrogant voice. Sounds almost boastful. They only have good

looking partners.Lots of detail.

Casual almost indifferent voice.

Sex is casual.

“The Godfather”

Red theme

Free verse. The narrator is just awakening.

with very deep lines around the eyes,from pain, I'd guess, maybe laughter; and a beautiful crimson mouth that obviously knewhow to flatter... which I kissed…Colder than pewter. Strange. What was his name? Peter?

Can’t remember his name! The murder is told in a very matter of fact way. Her lack of

interest in the individual suggests she might be a psychopath

The mouth is cold because he is dead. Kissing the decapitated

head is depraved and shocking.

Red theme

Simon? Andrew? John? I knew I'd feel betterfor tea, dry toast, no butter,so rang for the maid. And, indeed, her innocent clatterof cups and plates, her clearing of clutter,her regional patter, were just what needed - hungover and wrecked as I was from a night on the batter.

Names of the disciples. Link to the biblical roots of the

poem.

A very simple breakfast sits in juxtaposition to the scale of her

depravity.

Colloquial language. This makes it seem chatty and friendly which is at odds with the violence and the madness.

Hard “c” sounds

She is now more awake so the tempo picks up.

Never again! I needed to clean up my act, get fitter, cut out the booze and the fags and the sex. Yes. And as for the latter, it was time to turf out the blighter, the beater or biter, who'd come like a lamb to the slaughter to Salome's bed.

Simile

Casual about these things.

But also casual about killing

Use of the 3rd person. She is a force to be reckoned with.

Doesn’t include murder in her list of things to cut

back on.

Hates the male sex. Misandry.

In the mirror, I saw my eyes glitter. I flung back the sticky red sheets, and there, like I said -and ain't life a bitch - was his head on a platter.

Poem culminates in the decapitation. Echoes the

original biblical story.

Is she referring to herself? Or is it

ironic sympathy for her victim?

Red theme