| Collection
Introduction (2) | Selling Manhattan, 1987
Britain in the late 80s and 90s is represented as a consumerist society where money has become the major denominator of national culture
Critics point to Thatcherism as being the drive of economic self-sufficiency that promoted unrealistic expectations of betterment |
| Subject (2) | Money is anthropomorphised as an indiscriminate seducer of men and women with a god-like status
The poem embodies the irony and allusiveness of the increasingly dominant media; "Do you fancy me, lady? Really?", "Don't let my oily manner bother you. Sir". |
| Form (2) | Three sestets
Dramatic monologue; money is given a voice that highlights its dominating presence within the consumerist society. This ventriloquism allows Money to excercise its control. |
| Diction; Lexical fields
Juxtaposition
Imperatives (2)
Transferred epithet
Personification | Luxury; 'gold', 'tills', 'limousine', 'tuxedos', 'gold-toothed'
'sing', 'sleek', 'shining', 'party' set against 'mad', 'stink', 'scream', 'sighing' - the thrill brought by money also brings a coldness
'See me', 'Don't give me away'; enticing nature of Money
- Direct addresses 'Mister', 'Honey', 'lady', 'Sir, 'you'
'mad machines'; those who relish in the power of money
Money's ability to buy 'the big bombs'; obsession with money is often used to our own detriment |
| Imagery; Chromatic (2)
Synaesthesia | "gold-eye", "black grin"; corrupt nature of money
Time is often considered to be something no human has any power over and yet, Money can "cut Time dead" |
| Cross References (2)
Biblical Allusions (2) | St Paul; "the love of money is the root of all evil"
- Money's "one commandment" is "Love me".
Myth of Midas who wishes that all he touches be turned into gold, but regrets this decision - deceptive nature of money
"See me pass through the eye of a needle!" challenges Christ's edict that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.
"I am a jealous God" indicates how Money demands exclusive worship - it attains a God-like power. |
| Rhythm; Monosyllables
Sibilance (3)
Consonance | Clipped vowels in 'does not blink' highlights the elusive nature of Money
'it's racing dollar bills', '$-sounds', '$-stammering' denotes the money-driven society and sinister effect of its power
Gluttural sounds of 'k' and 'g' |
| Rhyme; Assonance
Dissonance | 'cold', 'gold'; harsh void that money is associated with
'women and gigolos, metal tuxedos' (internal rhyme) |
| Tone (2)
Mood | Conversational with the use of colloquialisms; 'Ok', 'Screw you'
Money takes on a powerful and arrogant tone accented through the use of first person 'I'
Mournful mood accompanies the end of the poem; highlighted in the assonance and internal rhyme of 'one long gold-toothed scream' |
| Motifs (3) | "I buy and sell the world"
"I am the authentic language of suffering"
"I got any currency you want"; the universalism of money and all that it is attached to - Duffy hints at the growing trend of consumris throughout the world |
