My Rival's House: Stanza 2

“My Rival’s House: Stanza 2” Overview

Structure and Style

  • Stanza comprised of 9 lines within which Lochhead develops a continuous, free flowing narrative.
  • Example of free verse with varying line lengths, creating conversational, dynamic tone.
  • Use of enjambment keeps the reader engaged and maintains the rapid pace.
  • Lochhead showcases vivid and specific imagery, such as “chandeliers from branches” and “perfumes from exotic spices.”

Themes

  • Jealousy and Inadequacy: The vivid descriptions of the rival’s house symbolise the speaker’s feelings of inadequacy.
  • Identity and Self-perception: The speaker contrasts her own perceived ‘mess’ with the intricate perfection of her rival.
  • Appearance vs Reality: The ‘glamour’ of the rival’s house mirrors the appearance of idealized life, contrary to its reality.

Language

  • Metaphorical Imagery: The rival’s house is depicted with extravagant metaphorical descriptions which intensify the speaker’s feelings of jealousy.
  • Hyperbolic Language: The surreally perfect descriptions of the rival’s house portray the speaker’s exaggeration and obsession.
  • Scottish Vernacular: Use of phrases like “smoor the wicks” keep the monologue grounded in the Scottish context.

Key Lines

  • “A tree-of-heaven grown so high, when the pale silver fruits split, the split will chandeliers from branches.”
  • “Under glass cloche the plaited bread itself seems to whisper, Ivana… Ivana…”
  • “Her smoky-voiced marmalade, mottled with delicious peel, will flirt shamelessly with her violet-headed young men.”

The precise interpretation of these lines offers a deeper understanding of the themes, language and structure employed by Lochhead in this stanza.