Revelation: Theme; The Nurturing Quality of Women

“Revelation: Theme; The Nurturing Quality of Women”

Content

  • “Revelation” by Liz Lochhead is a poignant poem reflecting on a childhood memory of being introduced to cow out in the farm.
  • The poem begins with the speaker’s naivety about where milk comes from and slowly reveals the realities of farming and life cycle.
  • The female protagonist’s encounter with a cow and subsequent revelation about the nurturing characteristics of women forms the foundation of the poem.

Theme Analysis

  • Nurturing Nature of Women: This theme is subtly touched upon when the speaker’s mother patiently explains how milk comes to the household. This denotes the nurturing quality, patience and kindness of a mother towards her offspring.
  • Feminine Strength: The bull’s presence is juxtaposed with the calm strength of the cow, representing the peaceful power of the feminine figure. This emphasises the robust, tenacious and enduring strength of women.

Symbolism

  • Cow: The cow’s generosity, its gift of milk, symbolises the nurturing nature of women, particularly motherhood.
  • Milk: Symbolising sustenance and nurturing, milk embodies the giving and selfless nature of women.
  • Bull: The image of the bull might be seen as a commentary on male behaviour, contrasting the brute, ‘dumb insolence’ of the bull to the quiet competence of the cow.

Language and Diction

  • Lochhead uses domestic, everyday language to strongly convey her message about the strength and nurturing quality of women.
  • The cow’s description as ‘warm, rank, feeding’ employs sensuous and tactile language in order to connect the ideas of womanhood with the muck and muddle of the natural world.

Form and Structure

  • The poem uses free verse and has no strict rhyme scheme which may reflect the meandering thoughts of a child and her process of revelation, teaching us about the cyclical nature of life and the nurturing quality of females.

Impact of ‘Revelation’

  • The poem offers a unique perspective on the nurturing characteristics and strength of women, allowing readers a fresh understanding of the crucial roles they play in society.
  • It may cause readers to think about their own experiences of realising the work, love and nurturing that goes on behind the scenes of everyday life.