The Jewellery Maker

context

Parker is from Ghanian and British heritage

Parker emphasises economic inequality between producing countries and consumer countries(likely due to colonialism)

Parallels

Parallels between the maker’s artistry and their precision, likening his craft to a surgeon

contrasts

beauty and luxury of the jewellery vs the simplicity of his life, which emphasises his poverty

contrasts tradition vs modernity - he follows his ancestors’ ways whilst making jewellery for contemporary wearers

the band worn by his wife vs the jewellery - further emphasising their poverty

symbolism

the gold butterflies flowers and moon symbolise delicate beauty and transformation, reflecting the jeweller’s skill and dedication

tools laid out like soldiers represent discipline and precision reinforcing the maker’s love for his craft

the plain gold band worn by his wife symbolises humility

structure

The poem is written in free verse, reflecting the organic, unstructured nature of craftsmanship.

The short, controlled lines mimic the jeweller’s careful, deliberate movements.

The lack of rhyme scheme reinforces the idea that artistry should not be confined by rigid rules.

caesura emphasises the man’s disciplined nature in his craft - “-neat as soldiers”

imagery used

Natural imagery (“blossom,” “plate-blue sky”) connects the jeweller’s craft to the beauty of the world around him.

Military imagery (“tools laid out like soldiers”) emphasizes discipline and precision.

Contrast imagery (“bright dragonflies” vs. “plain gold band”) highlights the divide between luxury and simplicity.

methods by fletcher

description of maker and his craft

imagery of the jewellery

contrasts

quotes for description of maker and his craft

Lays out pointed tools / The way a surgeon might

Deft fingers

His hands caress

quotes for imagery of the jewellery

Gold butterflies dance

Flowers bloom

Bright dragonflies flap two pairs of wings

quotes for contrasts in the poem

Her skin wrinkled by the sun

Simple cotton dress

Bird boned, unlined skin

Lines 1-2: “Each day after sunrise he walks to the workshop — like his father before him, and his father too —”

repetition of lineage emphasises tradition and continuity showing that craftsmanship is passed down though generations

‘each’ suggests repetition reinforcing his discipline

sunrise suggests new beginnings - also reinforcing his dedication

Lines 3-6: “the slap of sandalled feet on heat-baked stone,

the smell of blossom, a plate-blue sky. He greets

his neighbours with a smile. In the distance

a wild dog barks. ”

sandalled feet present the maker’s environment as rustic

juxtaposition of the neighbours and the dog suggests balance and peace in the maker’s life

Lines 7-8: “He sits straight-backed, lays out pointed tools

the way a surgeon might — neat as soldiers.”

straight backed - he is dedicated to his craft

comparison to a surgeon celebrates his craft, suggesting it takes precision and skill

simile of neat as soldiers shows how much the maker loves his craft - this is seen as admirable

Lines 9-10: He likes hot metal, the smell, the way it yields

to his touch

‘yields to his touch’ connotes control, emphasising the maker’s expertise

Lines 10-12: Under deft fingers gold butterflies dance;

flowers bloom; silvery moons wax and wane,

then wax again; bright dragonflies flap two pairs of wings.”

Imagery of movement suggests the maker is so skilled he can make the jewellery appear life like

dance also connotes joy and optimism, suggesting that the maker enjoys his work

wax and wane connote natural cycles, suggesting that the craftmanship is an extension

lines 13-16: “He likes the tiny loops and curls — he’d decorate

his house in this, drape his wife in fine-spun gold;

her skin wrinkled by sun, in simple cotton dress,

her only jewellery a plain gold band, worn thin.”

contrast between intricate jewellery and the luxurious jewellery highlights the divide between luxury and modesty

worn thin suggests enduring devotion reinforcing the theme of humility

drape shows his desire to decorate his house and wife, which is pity inducing as he financially cannot do so

Lines 17-19: “He imagines the women who will wear

what he has made, clear-eyed, bird-boned, unlined skin

warming the metal his hands caress.”

caress shows how connected the maker is to his craft

bird boned and unlined refers to consumers in HICs, presumably European countries

Bird boned suggests delicacy and elegance reinforcing the contrast between the jeweller’s rugged life and the refined world of his consumers