Analysis of "Eat Me" by Patience Agbabi
The poem presents a disturbing yet powerful narrative through a Dramatic Monologue with Dark Humour, exploring themes of exploitation, consumption, and eventual revenge. The speaker describes a toxic relationship where she is literally consumed by her partner's desires.
Definition: A dramatic monologue is a type of poem where a single character speaks to a silent listener, revealing their personality and perspective.
Highlight: The poem uses the metaphor of consumption both literally and figuratively, connecting personal exploitation to broader themes of colonialism and power dynamics.
Example: The recurring imagery of food and consumption is evident in lines like "When I hit thirty, he brought me a cake" and "His breadfruit. His desert island after shipwreck."
Quote: "EAT ME. And I ate, did what I was told. Didn't even taste it." - This line emphasizes the speaker's initial powerlessness and submission.
Vocabulary: Onomatopoeia - The use of words that phonetically imitate the sound they describe, as seen in the 'b' sounds representing the speaker's movement.
The poem makes several significant literary connections:
- Alice in Wonderland reference through the "EAT ME" cake
- Biblical allusions to original sin and forbidden fruit
- Frankenstein parallel of creating something uncontrollable
The narrative structure builds towards a dark conclusion where the speaker finally gains power through a violent act of revenge, demonstrating themes of Gender Issues and Third World Empowerment. The use of fricative sounds and careful word choice creates a mounting tension throughout the piece.
Highlight: The poem consists of 10 stanzas, potentially representing 10 years of the relationship, showing the gradual progression from submission to empowerment.
The conclusion presents a disturbing yet powerful reversal of power dynamics, with the speaker finally taking control of her situation through a devastating act of revenge, leaving readers to contemplate the nature of power, consumption, and the consequences of exploitation.
