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Advice to Women by Eunice de Souza

Advice to Women by Eunice de Souza


Keep cats

if you want to learn to cope with

the otherness of lovers.

Otherness is not always neglect -

Cats return to their litter trays

when they need to.

Don't cuss out of the window

at their enemies.

That stare of perpetual surprise

in those great green eyes

will teach you

to die alone.



INTRODUCTION -

The poem "Advice to women" is written by the poet Eunice de Souza. The poem, as understood by the name, is women-centric. It focuses on the otherness of women and remarks ironically. The poet says that women are the beauty of the world, but they are caged under the delusion of torment for flying. She says that women often find their happiness in playing the major role of daughter, wife, mother in her whole life, which is ineffectual.


POET -

Eunice de Souza (1 August 1940 - 29 July 2017) was an Indian English language poet, literary critic, and novelist. Her most famous works include Women in Dutch Painting, Ways of Belonging, Dangerlok, etc.

SUMMARY -

The poem 'Advice to Women' by Eunice D'Souza compares a cat's loftily condescending attitude towards life, the universe, and everything to what a woman's reaction should be when rejected by her lover. She says by keeping a cat, you will be accustomed to the tantrums or royal indifference which is a part of the animal's life. Therefore, dealing with your indifferent lover won't be so difficult. She asks them not to confuse their otherness with neglect. If your lover is not paying attention to you at a particular moment, it may be because he is busy and not because he doesn't love you. If you fight over these things, your relationship will surely suffer.



She advises them to wait for their lover's attention because just as a cat always returns to her litter trays, similarly, your lover will return to you too. You just have to wait for that moment. Cats do not abuse their passing rivals while standing at the windows as humans do. They show a cool and indifferent attitude. The poet recommends the women to stare at their lovers just like those cats whose green eyes scare us to the point where we can even die. So, having a cat is very useful. It will increase your patience and help you make the right decision in your relationships.


THEMES -

  • Women's roles in a relationship - The poet is making known her predicament without hesitation. She adopts a sharp tone with an independent voice and underlying rage in her poems. The poetry appears as an expression of a woman's emotional striptease deprived of what she desires after. The conflict in their minds between tradition-bound roles and between feminist learning has left them perplexed and bewildered.


END -

The poet's confessional style here discloses her mind's insecurity. She seems to be yearning for comfort and peace at the cost of her crushed, inner desires, but there is a constant trace of strain and frustration. The use of animal imagery increases the poem's significance in dealing with the problems of relationship indifference.

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2 Comments

  1. Really helpful for us . Thanks for getting valuable information about Advice to Women.

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