The Bargain: Theme; Relationships

The Bargain: Theme; Relationships

“The Bargain”: Exploration of the Theme “Relationships”

Understanding Relationships

  • In “The Bargain”, Liz Lochhead provides a nuanced and complex portrayal of a monogamous relationship.
  • She crafts a narrative that highlights the sometimes difficult, yet inherent, aspects of partnership - negotiation, compromise, and balance.

Realistic Portrayal of Relationships

  • The poem evokes the mundanity and the everyday basis of a relationship through the symbol of ‘peeling potatoes’.
  • The poet’s use of such everyday imagery and language is instrumental in making relationships seem both relatable and grounded to readers.

Defying Conventional Role Dynamics

  • Through ‘The Bargain’, Lochhead underscores an important aspect of relationships - it is not always about adhering to traditional gender roles.
  • The speaker, being a woman, explicitly refuses to “peel his tatties” - a metaphorical denial of performing traditional female roles in the house, thus breaking societal norms.
  • This lends a touch of modernity to their relationship, blending the conventional with the contemporary.

Use of Humour to Depict Relationships

  • Lochhead injects humour throughout the poem, particularly when describing the trivial chores within a relationship.
  • The casual, lighthearted tone of the speaker adds a sense of warmth and familiarity to an otherwise mundane narrative.
  • The humour not only makes the narrative engaging but also reinforces the message that relationships are not just about grand declarations but are found in small, day-to-day tasks.

Emphasis on Mutual Respect and Equality

  • In “The Bargain”, mutuality and equality sit at the core of the portrayed relationship.
  • There’s a particular focus on a sense of partnerships, with statements like “we’re in this together”.
  • This approach emphasises the importance of mutual respect and equal contribution in maintaining a balanced relationship.
  • Mutual agreements and understanding are shown as foundations of a healthy and lasting relationship, rather than rigid adherence to roles.

Key Quotes

  • “Anyhow, we’re in this together, him and me”
  • “he swears he will never ever peel mine.”
  • “Our deal…”

These quotes underline the themes of partnership, equality, and mutuality in relationships, which form the main crux of Lochhead’s “The Bargain”.