The Bargain: Stanzas 9-11

The Bargain: Stanzas 9-11

“The Bargain” Stanzas 9-11: Overview

Context

  • Stanzas 9-11 of “The Bargain” by Liz Lochhead continue to explore the intricate facets of a love relationship.
  • These stanzas delve deep into the realities and sacrifices made in a committed partnership.
  • The protagonist voices a devotion to cling to the bond, amidst the everyday disagreements and struggles.

Form and Structure

  • The poet adheres to the mono-rhyme sonnet structure, maintaining the rhyme scheme.
  • Numerous short lines in these stanzas create a pace that echoes the normality of bickering, contrasting with the gravity of the commitment made.

Themes

  • Acceptance and Compromise: These stanzas continue the theme of the bargain, confirming that no partnership is perfect - it consists of give and take.
  • Reality versus Ideal: Lochhead underscores the divorce between the romanticised ideals of relationships and the pragmatic realities.

Language and Imagery

  • The phrases “I bide with you” and “Bide means I can stand” show the commitment’s reality - it’s not about the romantic ideal, but shared responsibilities and tolerance.
  • Lochhead also reinforces her themes through the use of dialect words, such as “bide” - a Scottish term meaning to endure or stay.

Key Phrases

  • “I bide with you.”
  • “Bide means I can stand.”
  • “It’s a deal.”

These stanzas further the main themes of the poem, provide rich engagement for analysis, as well as offering detailed insight into Lochhead’s realistic portrayal of love and commitment.