Mrs Midas

“then with my fingers wiped the other’s glass like a brow.”

Simile: introduces importance of sense of touch to Mrs M- she is no longer able to touch Midas

“He came into the house”

Word Choice: ‘He’ as the name of ‘Midas’ is not mentioned- perhaps reflecting the blame Mrs Midas puts on her husband for what he does

“his face was strange, wild, vain”

Word Choice: ‘strange’ ‘wild’ ‘vain’ describes what he looks like. Reflects his greed and selfishness as well as him contemplating what has happened

“I served up the meal”

comic effect: Mrs Midas continues to go about her domestic chores despite absurd situation as it may be a common occurrence as she is used to it

“Do you know about gold?”

rhetorical question: emphasises that Mrs M thinks Midas’ wish was outrageous

“we were passionate then, in those halcyon days”

Imagery: of physical suffering they must now endure, compared to the fulfilling relationship

‘halcyon days’ (perfect time) they enjoyed before he was granted his wish

“But now i feared his honeyed embrace”

Metaphor: However, she now rightly fears Midas’ honeyed embrace since it would be deadly to her

“like a precious latch, its amber eyes holding their pupils like flies”

Imagery: this descends into a disturbing image as these flamed coloured eyes are deemed to be ‘holding their pupils like flies’ a symbol of lifelessness

“into the tomb of Tutankhamun”

Imagery: the imagery now carries connotations of death and symbolises that their relationship and dreams are effectively dead

“And who, when it comes to the crunch, can live with a heart of gold?”

Metaphor: expression usually has positive connotations and is associated with kindness. This metaphor is invented as the literal meaning is implied, inferring that it would be impossible to survive as the living being with such a heart

“What gets me now is not the idiocy or greed but lack of thought for me. Pure selfishness.”

Tone: There is a bitter insightful as the final stanza stresses Mrs Midas’ anger and reflection at her husbands ‘pure selfishness’ in making his wish which has not only affected him but also deprived both of any physical relationship but also his wife’s chance to have her dream baby.