“Medusa” by Carol Ann Duffy: A Critical Analysis

Introduction: “Medusa” by Carol Ann Duffy

“Medusa” by Carol Ann Duffy, first appeared in 1999 as part of her poetry collection The World’s Wife, reimagines mythological and historical figures through the voices of their female counterparts, casting a fresh, feminist lens on familiar stories. In “Medusa,” Duffy gives voice to the infamous Gorgon from Greek mythology, exploring themes of jealousy, transformation, and self-destruction as Medusa reflects on her monstrous appearance, caused by her husband’s perceived betrayal. The poem is celebrated for its vivid, visceral language and psychological depth, inviting readers to empathize with Medusa’s pain and complex emotions rather than viewing her solely as a monstrous figure. Duffy’s retelling humanizes Medusa, aligning with the collection’s overarching feminist aim to reclaim and reinterpret female characters often marginalized or vilified in classical literature. This transformative portrayal has resonated widely, contributing to the poem’s enduring popularity and critical acclaim.

Text: “Medusa” by Carol Ann Duffy

A suspicion, a doubt, a jealousy
grew in my mind,
which turned the hairs on my head to filthy snakes
as though my thoughts
hissed and spat on my scalp.

My bride’s breath soured, stank
in the grey bags of my lungs.
I’m foul mouthed now, foul tongued,
yellow fanged.
There are bullet tears in my eyes.
Are you terrified?

Be terrified.
It’s you I love,
perfect man, Greek God, my own;
but I know you’ll go, betray me, stray
from home.
So better by for me if you were stone.

I glanced at a buzzing bee,
a dull grey pebbly fell
to the ground.
I glanced at a singing bird,
a handful of dusty gravel
spattered down.

I looked at a ginger cat,
a housebrick
shattered a bowl of milk.
I looked at a snuffling pig,
a boulder rolled
in a heap of shit.

I stared in the mirror.
Love gone bad
showed me a Gorgon.
I stared at a dragon.
Fire spewed
from the mouth of a mountain.

And here you come
with a shield for a heart
and a sword for a tongue
and your girls, your girls.
Wasn’t I beautiful
Wasn’t I fragrant and young?

Look at me now.

Annotations: “Medusa” by Carol Ann Duffy

Line	Annotation
A suspicion, a doubt, a jealousy	Introduces the cause of Medusa’s transformation: emotional insecurity leading to jealousy, foreshadowing the physical and mental decay that follows.
grew in my mind,	Suggests that jealousy takes root within her thoughts, emphasizing its gradual but consuming growth.
which turned the hairs on my head to filthy snakes	Symbolic of her transformation into the Gorgon; her emotions literally manifest in a monstrous form.
as though my thoughts	Reflects her self-awareness; she understands that her own thoughts contribute to her change.
hissed and spat on my scalp.	The personification of thoughts as hissing and spitting underlines the toxic nature of her jealousy.
My bride’s breath soured, stank	Jealousy corrupts her, changing even her breath; the term “bride” adds irony as she transforms away from traditional notions of purity.
in the grey bags of my lungs.	“Grey bags” implies sickness or decay, underscoring her internal corruption.
I’m foul mouthed now, foul tongued,	Emphasizes how jealousy affects her words and personality, transforming her speech into something repulsive.
yellow fanged.	Connotes decay and monstrous imagery, indicating how jealousy disfigures her physically.
There are bullet tears in my eyes.	Her tears are violent, likening emotional pain to a physical weapon.
Are you terrified?	Direct address challenges the reader (or lover), implying Medusa’s awareness of her terrifying transformation.
Be terrified.	A command that reflects both self-awareness and resentment, as if taking ownership of her monstrous identity.
It’s you I love,	Confession of love, showing that her jealousy stems from an intense emotional connection.
perfect man, Greek God, my own;	References her lover’s idealized form, “Greek God” adding irony since Greek mythology depicts him as her undoing.
but I know you’ll go, betray me, stray	Suggests insecurity and fear of abandonment, fueling her transformation as she anticipates betrayal.
from home.	Reflects her anxiety about infidelity, associating betrayal with leaving their shared home.
So better by for me if you were stone.	Foreshadows her power to turn things to stone, with a sense of vengeance or protection from betrayal.
I glanced at a buzzing bee,	Describes the power of her gaze, which transforms even small creatures.
a dull grey pebble fell	The bee turns to stone, illustrating her destructive capability.
to the ground.	Highlights the finality of her power, reducing life to lifelessness.
I glanced at a singing bird,	Shows the natural beauty that surrounds her and her unfortunate power to destroy it.
a handful of dusty gravel	The bird becomes stone, an image of beauty reduced to something barren and dead.
spattered down.	Implies violence and the inevitability of her curse; everything she looks at is destroyed.
I looked at a ginger cat,	Depicts a domestic, gentle creature, indicating that her power doesn’t discriminate.
a housebrick	The cat hardens to stone, mirroring the transformation in her heart.
shattered a bowl of milk.	Suggests the destruction of innocence, as milk symbolizes nurturing.
I looked at a snuffling pig,	Observes even humble animals are not safe from her gaze, showing her universal effect.
a boulder rolled	The pig, too, turns to stone, underscoring her isolation as everything around her dies.
in a heap of shit.	Graphic imagery intensifies her revulsion with herself and her surroundings.
I stared in the mirror.	Self-reflection; she confronts her monstrous self, understanding her own transformation.
Love gone bad	Medusa attributes her state to a corrupted love, indicating she once had love but it has soured.
showed me a Gorgon.	Realizes that she has become the mythological creature she dreaded, symbolizing her loss of humanity.
I stared at a dragon.	Implies the fierceness and monstrosity of her own image; comparing herself to another mythical monster.
Fire spewed	Symbolizes her rage, as if her inner emotions are externalized.
from the mouth of a mountain.	The dragon and mountain imagery add scale to her anger, showing it as powerful and natural.
And here you come	The arrival of her lover with weapon-like qualities, suggesting an impending confrontation.
with a shield for a heart	Implies he is emotionally guarded, symbolized by the shield, as though he is prepared to confront her.
and a sword for a tongue	His words are sharp, suggesting he might be as destructive in their relationship as she has been.
and your girls, your girls.	Implies infidelity or unfaithfulness, which is the root of her jealousy.
Wasn’t I beautiful	A reflection on her former beauty, showing her regret and the loss she feels.
Wasn’t I fragrant and young?	Remembers her youth and innocence, lost to jealousy and transformation.
Look at me now.	A final acknowledgment of her state, forcing the reader (or her lover) to confront the monster she has become due to her jealousy.

Literary And Poetic Devices: “Medusa” by Carol Ann Duffy

Poetic Device	Example	Explanation
Alliteration	“foul mouthed, foul tongued”	Repetition of the ‘f’ sound emphasizes her monstrous transformation and bitterness.
Allusion	“Greek God”	Refers to Greek mythology, where Medusa’s story originates, giving context to her tragic transformation.
Anaphora	“I glanced at… I glanced at… I looked at…”	Repetition of phrase beginnings emphasizes her destructive power, affecting all she sees.
Antithesis	“Love gone bad”	Contrast between love and its decay highlights the transformation of positive emotion into something toxic.
Apostrophe	“Are you terrified? Be terrified.”	Directly addresses her lover, inviting fear and emphasizing her awareness of her own terrifying transformation.
Assonance	“yellow fanged”	Repetition of the ‘a’ sound creates a harsh tone that mirrors her grotesque physical transformation.
Caesura	“Love gone bad / showed me a Gorgon.”	A pause in the line reflects her moment of self-realization, marking a shift in her identity.
Connotation	“snakes,” “Gorgon,” “stone”	These words carry connotations of danger, myth, and punishment, reinforcing Medusa’s cursed, monstrous identity.
Direct Address	“Wasn’t I beautiful… Look at me now.”	Medusa addresses her lover directly, showing vulnerability and forcing him to confront the change he caused.
Enjambment	“I glanced at a buzzing bee, / a dull grey pebble fell”	The continuation of the thought into the next line builds tension as her curse unfolds.
Hyperbole	“Fire spewed from the mouth of a mountain”	Exaggerates her anger, likening it to volcanic rage, underscoring the intensity of her emotions.
Imagery	“bullet tears in my eyes”	Vivid image associates her tears with violence, reflecting the pain and anger consuming her.
Irony	“perfect man, Greek God”	Ironic because this “perfect” lover has contributed to her curse, showing the disparity between his appearance and his actions.
Metaphor	“a shield for a heart and a sword for a tongue”	Metaphorically describes her lover as guarded and hurtful, suggesting he is emotionally distant and harmful with his words.
Onomatopoeia	“hissed and spat”	The sounds echo a snake’s noise, connecting to her curse and the venomous nature of her thoughts.
Oxymoron	“bullet tears”	Combines violence and sadness, showing how her emotions have become as dangerous as weapons.
Personification	“my thoughts hissed and spat”	Attributes snake-like behavior to her thoughts, emphasizing the intensity of her jealousy and rage.
Repetition	“Wasn’t I beautiful / Wasn’t I fragrant and young?”	Repeats rhetorical questions to express regret and nostalgia for her lost beauty and innocence.
Simile	“as though my thoughts hissed and spat”	Compares her thoughts to venomous snakes, showing how jealousy has corrupted her mind.
Symbolism	“stone”	Symbolizes the loss of life, vibrancy, and warmth, representing the emotional barrenness inflicted by her curse.

Themes: “Medusa” by Carol Ann Duffy

1. Jealousy and Possessiveness: Medusa’s transformation is driven by jealousy, which corrupts both her body and mind. The poem opens with, “A suspicion, a doubt, a jealousy grew in my mind,” establishing how deeply jealousy has taken root within her. Her fixation on her lover’s potential betrayal leads her to imagine him as “perfect man, Greek God, my own,” revealing a possessive love that ultimately becomes toxic. This consuming jealousy manifests in her power to turn things to stone, symbolizing the destructive effect of possessiveness on relationships.
2. Transformation and Self-Destruction: Medusa’s jealousy not only affects her mind but also physically alters her, turning her hair into “filthy snakes” and her mouth into something “foul tongued, yellow fanged.” Her reflection in the mirror shows her transformed into a “Gorgon,” a creature of mythology, symbolizing how intense negative emotions can distort one’s self-image and humanity. This theme of transformation illustrates the destructive potential of inner turmoil and how unresolved jealousy or rage can alter one’s identity.
3. Isolation and Alienation: Medusa’s curse isolates her, as everything she loves or values turns to stone with her gaze. Describing her interactions with living things, she observes, “I glanced at a singing bird, a handful of dusty gravel spattered down,” showing how her power renders her incapable of connection. Her isolation is underscored by her direct address to her lover, “It’s you I love… but I know you’ll go, betray me,” as she anticipates abandonment, leaving her emotionally and physically isolated.
4. Lost Beauty and Innocence: Medusa reflects on her former self, questioning, “Wasn’t I beautiful / Wasn’t I fragrant and young?” These rhetorical questions express her nostalgia for her lost innocence and beauty, which have been eroded by jealousy and bitterness. The poem’s transformation from beauty to monstrosity mirrors her inner decay, and her lament at the poem’s end, “Look at me now,” captures her regret and the irrevocable consequences of her emotions. This theme speaks to the tragedy of losing one’s original self to darker feelings, a cautionary tale about the cost of unchecked jealousy.

Literary Theories and “Medusa” by Carol Ann Duffy

Literary Theory	Application to “Medusa”	References from the Poem
Feminist Theory	A feminist lens explores how Medusa’s transformation and pain are responses to patriarchal betrayal and objectification. Duffy reclaims Medusa’s voice, giving her agency to express her emotions.	“perfect man, Greek God, my own” reflects societal expectations placed on women to remain faithful, while her jealousy and transformation challenge the passive role typically assigned to female figures.
Psychoanalytic Theory	This theory examines Medusa’s jealousy as a manifestation of inner turmoil and unconscious desires. Her transformation into a Gorgon symbolizes the psychological effects of suppressed rage and betrayal fears.	“A suspicion, a doubt, a jealousy grew in my mind” indicates a descent into paranoia, while “bullet tears in my eyes” conveys suppressed violence, suggesting unresolved emotional conflict.
Mythological/Archetypal Theory	Medusa’s character embodies the archetype of the “Monstrous Feminine,” often depicted as a fearful figure in mythology. Duffy’s poem reinterprets this archetype, offering Medusa’s perspective and examining the tragedy behind her monstrosity.	“showed me a Gorgon” aligns her with the mythical archetype, while the final lines, “Wasn’t I beautiful / Look at me now,” reveal her tragic loss of innocence and humanity.

Critical Questions about “Medusa” by Carol Ann Duffy

• How does jealousy transform Medusa, both emotionally and physically?
• The poem opens with Medusa describing how “A suspicion, a doubt, a jealousy grew in my mind,” illustrating the gradual and invasive nature of jealousy. This emotion corrupts her from within, turning her “thoughts” into venomous “snakes” that hiss and spit. Her jealousy affects her physical state, as she becomes “foul mouthed, foul tongued, yellow fanged,” reflecting how destructive emotions can manifest physically. This transformation raises questions about the power of unchecked jealousy to alter one’s identity, showing that Medusa’s inner turmoil has a tangible impact on her outer form.
• How does Duffy’s Medusa subvert traditional gender roles and expectations?
• Through a feminist lens, Medusa’s character defies the passive female archetype by voicing her rage and frustration. Her jealousy stems from her fear of her lover’s betrayal, whom she describes as a “perfect man, Greek God, my own.” In traditional myth, Medusa is often depicted as a monster without agency, but Duffy reclaims her perspective, giving her voice and self-awareness. Medusa’s declaration, “It’s you I love… but I know you’ll go, betray me,” captures the pressures and emotional toll of unreciprocated loyalty, subverting the silent, enduring woman stereotype and highlighting the cost of these expectations on women.
• What role does isolation play in Medusa’s identity and self-perception?
• Medusa’s curse isolates her from the world, as everything she looks at becomes lifeless stone. This destructive gaze not only separates her physically but emotionally, as she watches her surroundings crumble. The lines “I glanced at a singing bird, a handful of dusty gravel spattered down” illustrate how even innocent life suffers under her gaze. Medusa’s isolation is further compounded by her lover’s anticipated betrayal, making her jealousy and self-loathing self-reinforcing. Her curse thus becomes a metaphor for emotional isolation, as her own fears and insecurities push her further into solitude.
• What does Medusa’s lament for her lost beauty suggest about self-worth and societal expectations?
• In the final lines, Medusa reflects, “Wasn’t I beautiful / Wasn’t I fragrant and young?” These questions reveal her nostalgia and longing for her past self, lamenting the beauty and innocence she has lost. This longing indicates that her self-worth may have been tied to her appearance, a reflection on societal expectations that prioritize a woman’s beauty over other attributes. By ending with the resigned phrase, “Look at me now,” Medusa’s transformation critiques the transience of beauty and the heavy toll societal pressures can take on a woman’s identity, raising questions about the true nature of worth and self-image.

Literary Works Similar to “Medusa” by Carol Ann Duffy

1. “Eurydice” by Carol Ann Duffy – Like “Medusa,” this poem gives voice to a traditionally silent female figure from mythology, presenting a feminist reinterpretation of Eurydice’s story.
2. “Lady Lazarus” by Sylvia Plath – Plath’s poem also explores themes of transformation and self-empowerment in the face of suffering, depicting a woman who reclaims control over her narrative.
3. “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by T.S. Eliot – This poem shares Medusa’s introspective tone, delving into insecurities and self-image, though through the perspective of a man grappling with inadequacy and alienation.
4. “Mirror” by Sylvia Plath – This poem examines self-perception and the fear of aging, resonating with Medusa’s lament over her lost beauty and the changing reflection she sees in herself.
5. “Goblin Market” by Christina Rossetti – While not directly about jealousy, this poem addresses themes of temptation, transformation, and female identity, focusing on the dangers that societal expectations impose on women.

Representative Quotations of “Medusa” by Carol Ann Duffy

Quotation	Context	Theoretical Perspective
“A suspicion, a doubt, a jealousy grew in my mind”	Opening line that sets the tone, revealing the root of Medusa’s transformation as jealousy.	Psychoanalytic Theory – Examines jealousy as a psychological force that transforms Medusa’s mind and body.
“which turned the hairs on my head to filthy snakes”	Illustrates her physical transformation as a manifestation of inner turmoil.	Feminist Theory – Reflects how societal pressures on women to remain faithful affect their self-image.
“My bride’s breath soured, stank in the grey bags of my lungs”	Indicates how jealousy corrupts her even physically, tainting her purity.	Psychoanalytic Theory – Shows how intense emotions affect the body, linking mental state to physical decay.
“I’m foul mouthed now, foul tongued, yellow fanged”	Suggests her internal rage has made her monstrous and repulsive.	Feminist Theory – Challenges traditional feminine ideals of gentleness by showing her anger outwardly.
“Are you terrified? Be terrified.”	Direct address to her lover, inviting fear and expressing her awareness of her terrifying transformation.	Reader-Response Theory – Engages the reader directly, challenging them to confront Medusa’s wrath.
“It’s you I love, perfect man, Greek God, my own”	Her lover is idealized, though ironically, as he has played a part in her transformation.	Irony and Feminist Theory – Highlights her disillusionment with the male ideal and its destructive effects on women.
“I glanced at a singing bird, a handful of dusty gravel spattered down”	Shows her curse in action, turning a living creature to stone.	Mythological/Archetypal Theory – Reinforces Medusa’s role as a cursed figure whose power isolates her.
“I stared in the mirror. Love gone bad showed me a Gorgon.”	Medusa realizes her transformation, seeing herself as a monster in the mirror.	Psychoanalytic and Feminist Theory – Reflects self-perception altered by betrayal, mirroring societal judgments of “fallen” women.
“Wasn’t I beautiful, wasn’t I fragrant and young?”	Medusa’s nostalgic lament for her lost beauty and innocence.	Feminist and Psychoanalytic Theory – Questions societal value placed on female beauty, expressing loss and longing.
“Look at me now.”	Final line that forces the reader or lover to confront her monstrous change, a result of her emotional pain.	Reader-Response and Tragic Theory – Invites the audience to reflect on her tragic transformation and societal expectations.

Suggested Readings: “Medusa” by Carol Ann Duffy

1. Prihermawan, Widyanto Tulus. THE JEALOUSY IN CAROL ANN DUFFY’S “MEDUSA”. Diss. Diponegoro University, 2014.
2. Duffy, Carol Ann. “Medusa.” Carol Ann Duffy, The World’s Wife, London: Picador (1999): 40.
3. Duffy, Carol Ann. The World’s Wife. Vol. 6. Pan Macmillan, 2015.