National 5 Scottish Set Texts - Carol Ann Duffy

This poem is written from the perspective of Anne Hathaway, Shakespeare's wife. Shakespeare left her his 'second best bed' in his will and historians have suggested that this means Shakespeare did not love his wife. Duffy refutes this, suggesting that this was his final act of love as he gifted her their marital bed. The poem primarily concerns itself with love and is a celebration of all things positive in a relationship. She focuses particularly on the physical intimacy of a relationship. It is most easily contrasted with 'Havisham' and compared with 'Valentine'.