Dear Dean Gaddi

Throughout the past two week, I’ve been reading, analyzing, and trying to understand every little detail in Eavan Boland’s poem, “It’s a Woman’s World.” Before even reading the poem, I automatically assumed that its main topic was about a woman’s world and her role within it. But as I began reading and understanding stanza by stanza, I noticed that this is no ordinary poem. It’s not about how woman are the caretakers of the family and how she enjoys living her life freely and pleased, it is actually a stance against the stereotypical views of woman and what we do.

Boland begins the entirety of the poem with “Our way of life/has hardly changes” (1-2). Such a bold statement to begin a poem which I thought was a simple characterization of woman and their qualities. But how true this was, maybe not on a complete and literal translation but it does bring a great point, that many aspects of woman and their role in society has not changed. Similar to this idea, Boland continues her poem with many examples, enclosed in similes and metaphors, of how woman have been neglected and defined. She states that “we are defined/by what we forget” (19-20), “we” referring to maybe woman alone or both men and woman. Either way, believe she is saying that throughout history and the accomplishments that we have succeeded in will one day be forgotten and the definition of who we are still remain as who we were before all of our successes.

I understand that this journey of a woman has evolved throughout the poem. Toward the beginning, I feel like there was a sense of struggle but motivation and once ending the poem, the mood shifts complete. The woman does not feel like the stereotypical views of her is a huge trouble. She seems to accept the fact that she will always be characterized in group which society places her. I agree, to an extent, with the whole journey of this poem. Yes we, as woman, have been defined, and sometimes still are, in society as the housekeeper and caretaker, and today in society we tend to just accept the fact that we will always be seen as “just a woman.” I feel like the motivation of woman, to be different and equal, has decrease. The struggle to be equal with man has taken a great toll on the woman of the world. We have succeeded in many different ways where men wants said we could not. Evolving little by little, I believe a woman’s world will no longer be belittled and placed under a man’s world. Eavan Boland has taught me to be extremely proud for being a woman and therefore I will always take advantage of any opportunities I receive to strive for that equality.

Sincerely,

Carol Nguyen

Dear Eavan Boland

First I would like to say that greatly enjoyed reading your poem, “It’s a Woman’s World.” It shows a great journey from where woman began and where they are now. I was able to make many different connections throughout the poem to my life as it is today. Yes, I had to read and reread this poem over and over again to realize its true means and message, but in the end I am proud to say that your message really inspired me.

The structures of the overall poem was very well put together and clearly portrayed a journey to me. You began with “Our way of life has hardly changed” (1-2) which instantly lead me to think about how my culture and its morals have influenced me. There are so many aspects in my Vietnamese culture that “has hardly changed” (2) in centuries. Especially how I, as a young Vietnamese girl, was expected to only go to school and once home, provide help to our mothers with her task around the house. At the moment of realizing how much I had in common with just reading the first stanza of the poem, I was excited to find something relatable to and continued on.

As I processed in reading, I came across the tenth stanza which strongly portrayed the definition of my family. I have always seen my parents as the uptight, overly protective and hovering parents. “Our windows moth our children to the flame” (39-40) made me picture a family huddling around a nice warm fireplace telling, sharing stories. I connected to this very well because as the younger of two daughters, raised in a strict Catholic, Vietnamese family, I have always been sheltered and kept away from many influences of society. Rules are rules and as the youngest, I dared not to even try to bend one.

Overall there are many little details that you have includes throughout this poem that I can really relate to, as a woman, or just as a young teenager growing up. I believe that there is more to this poem than just the views on woman, but also how woman strive to change as the years go by. Our strength and enduring characteristics, truly defines a woman. Thank you for your time and inspiring work of art.

Sincerely.

       Carol Nguyen