My Rivals House By Liz Lochhead My rivals

My Rival’s House By Liz Lochhead

My rivals house is peopled with many surfaces, ormolu and gilt , slipper satin Lush velvet couches Cushions so stiff you cant sink in Tables polished clear enough to see distortions in “ Ormolu and gilt “ are forms of wealth which makes the mother in law seem better than she really is which represents false necessities between the mother and the speaker and a sense that the mother is trying to intimidate the speaker “ stiff “ this is a clear description of the relationship between the mother and the speaker as it suggests that the speaker cannot feel at home in the mothers house “ distortions “ this suggests that the speaker can physically see the bitterness the mother had towards her and also suggests something is not right with the mother The title immediately establishes a sense of conflict between the speaker and the mother and suggests that this house will never be the speakers home

We take our shoes off at her door Shuffle stocking soled , tiptoe – the parquet floor Is beautiful and its surface must Be protected , dust – Cover , drawn shade , Wont let the surface colour fade Respectful tone Home is designed to both intimidate and impress rather than be welcoming and comfortable to the speaker Use of enjambment emphasises her overprotecting nature Use of sibilance to show carefully they must move in order to protect the state of the house Pristine condition of home suggests an near obsessive nature over house and her son

Silver sugar – tongs and silver salver , My rival serves us tea She glosses over him and me I am all edges , a surface , a shell And yet my rival thinks she means me well But what squirms beneath I can tell Increased formality heightens speakers discomfort in house Pretentiousness seems to heighten the speakers discomfort Mother seems to enjoy speakers discomfort “ glosses “ suggests pristine condition over something bad “ edges “ suggests the speaker is nervous around the mother Use of sibilance shows that the mother is deliberately using such expensive items to intimidate the speaker

Soon , my rival Capped tooth , polished nail Will fight , fight foul for her survival Deferential , daughterly , I sip And thank her nicely for each bitter cup “ my rival “ establishes the other as her opponent “ capped tooth , polished nail “ shows that the mother is using perfection to hide what is truly there “ survival “ links the mother to a predator fighting her pray , as well as suggest the mother wants to always be the most important woman in the sons life Alliteration is used to make a hard sound through ‘d’ in order to emphasise her disgust and bitterness of the mother “ bitter cup “ emphasises the speakers dislike for her mother in law

And I have much to thank her for. This son she bore – First blood to her – Never , never can escape Scot free The sour potluck of family And oh how close This family that furnishes my rival’s place The speaker acknowledges that she does have to thank the mother for something good Repetition of ‘ never ‘ that she will never escape the mothers connection with the son “ potluck “ suggests that family is similar to a lottery and also suggests that family is arbitrary “ first blood “ suggests sacrifice Enjambment emphasises the speakers sense of claustrophobia Suggestions that she is not part of the mothers family “ furnishes “ suggests pristine condition of son and also suggests that the mother has an unhealthy obsession with her son

Lady of the house Queen bee She is far more unconscious far more dangerous than me Listen , I was always my own worst enemy She has even taken this from me “ dangerous” suggests that the mother is a threat to the relationship “ taken “ suggests the mother wants to steal the son from her “ my own worst enemy “ dark humour “ unconscious “ suggests the mother is devious and under handing First 2 lines describe how the mother sees herself

She dishes up her dreams for breakfast Dinner , and her salt tears pepper our soup She wont Give up The mother explores her grief over her sons romantic choices The mother in law will never accept the speaker as her sons partner Mother is not accepting of her