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.