Analysis Of In The Park By Gwen Harwood

The idea of having many different aspects of human experience is central to Gwen Harwood’s anthology of Selected Poems. In her works, Harwood explores many specific situations and circumstances associated with encountering human experiences; from childhood pleasures, innocence, emotion, celebration and passion, to the dullness and misery of domestic suburban life. Harwood utilizes a range of characters in her writing, adopting personas and pseudonyms in order to transform what may be seen as often very personal and private experiences into universal facets of human existence. By using her own personal journey towards self-knowledge and experience of growing up, Harwood is able to comment on the aspects of unconcealed and uncensored events in

She expresses the delights, joy and fulfillment of these roles, as well as the empty aspects and meaninglessness of domestic suburban roles of women. Harwood explores, critisises and challenges the changing nature of the expectations of women as housewives and mothers. In the poem “In the Park”, Harwood challenges the societal assumption of the role of women as mothers, whose sole purpose to raising children. The heavily negative introduction states that the women’s clothes are “out of date”, the children “whine and bicker… draw aimless patterns in the dirt”, immediately displaying a negative image of the unhappiness and emptiness of the woman’s life, suggesting that the burden of motherhood has overwhelmed and consumed her. The mother’s comment “they have eaten me alive” creates an image of desperation and misery, implying that the role of being a mother is very “consuming”. Furthermore, in “Suburban Sonnet”, Harwood exposes a darker side of motherhood, suggesting that the role starves individuality and creativity. The strong use of imagery, such as “Nausea overpowers”, “veins ache” and “scours crusty milk” show that housewife duties are often hindered by their physical capabilities, emphasizing the balancing act that mothers must perform in order to achieve happiness and raising