In the poem “Stealing” by Carol Ann Duffy, the protagonist is kicking the snowman down because they have realized that the snowman isn’t a human or “mate” (Duffy )3 but a mere snowman. As said in the poem, “he didn’t look the same.” (Duffy 17). This conveys that the protagonist no longer sees the snowman as a person, this is supported again later as they no longer personify the snowman just referring to it as, “the snowman” (Duffy 24) and as the protagonist refers to it as, “a mate with a mind as cold as the slice of ice within my own brain” (Duffy 3-5).

 

 

This person is projecting revenge on the world, they feel that taking away joy will show a perspective of how they feel. As stated, “part of the thrill was knowing that children would cry in the morning” “life’s tough” (Duffy 9-10) perhaps that is because of some past trauma, maybe their father or family member walked out. They don’t take money, jewels, or anything ‘precious’ the character takes a snowman something that families and friends make together during winter. They take it to rebuild in their yard, trying to recreate the moment of joy and the family bond that the kids felt, hoping that they would feel it too. The character then said, “he didn’t look the same” “I took a run and booted him Again. Again” (Duffy 17-18) we are seeing how the character reacted to the rebuilt snowman, a copy of what was supposed to be fun, but instead it being filled with anger and almost misery. We see how they are broken and empty of the warmth that those memories bring.

 

 

 

The girl in the poem was kicking the snowman because when she first saw the snowman she could see that there was a happy family who built it together, when she made the snowman she realized it wasn’t the same not because of how it looked but because she realized how lonely she was, she had no one to keep her company and she didn’t feel loved so she took out her anger on the snowman. Evidence for this point would be “he didn’t look the same” (Duffy 17). this quote proves part of my point because she realized she was lonely and she didn’t get to build it with someone she cared about like the people she stole the snowman from. usually building a snowman should be fun but the girl in this poem was so bored she hated everything about the snowman because she thought the snowman could be her friend and keep her company but it did not work. Evidence for this would be “I wanted him a mate with a mind as cold as the slice of ice within my own brain” (Duffy 3 and 4). the sentence may have sounded strange but all she wanted someone that understood her she was still lonely because the snowman was just made of snow.

 

I believe that the character in the poem does not have a caring family and goes to steal other family’s items that represent memories. He goes into a house just to have a look at it  

(To know what it feels like to be in a loving family), Steals a camera 

(To see what other families keep as memories) and a snowman. I think that the snowman represents the joy families feel while creating the snowman, and the character wanted to steal it so he can keep the feeling for himself, realizes that keeping it does not actually give the same feeling as the family when creating the snowman. I think he destroyed the snowman out of anger that he can’t feel the same as the other families. 

 

 

The speaker behaved like this because they have a tough life. They don't have an easy life as of things that has happened to them. They speaker said: “Life’s tough” (Duffy 10). This indicates that they have a tough time and has some issues with their life. They act terrible because of the things they are going through.

Question 2

This person is evidently hurting, very deeply, possibly because of a motherly or fatherly figure walking out the proverbial door. This leads me to believe that because she is suffering, others must suffer, as she states “Life’s tough” (Duffy 2) in the poem. She steals cameras, joyrides cars, crushes snowmen, all for what? 

She uses boredom as an excuse to explain her actions to the reader, possibly even to herself, this reinforces my statement that if she suffers, all must suffer.

She states that she has no “mates” meaning not only did her motherly or fatherly figure leave, she is completely alone, as she says, “a mate with a mind as cold as a slice of ice within my own brain” (Duffy 1)

That leads me to believe that she is numb. The pain has made her numb, she doesn't feel bad when she destroys and steals the snowman, the cars and the  cameras and a bust of Shakespeare. (Duffy 5)

From animals to houses

easy to control

With beautiful antlers

All soft and spotted 

She forgot her coat in Dubai

The rain came down like magic

But the outcome was tragic

It was a sight that made me cry

It is the foundation of human identity.

It’s everywhere you can imagine.

It’s a layer embedded on everyone

None are the same but you can’t complain 

It's a part of all us.
Some are proud.
While others are not.
One day, I wish for the world to treat it kindly.

With speed, no need to plan it

I see views that are volcanic

I hear sounds that like magic 

Everything smells oceanic 

Flying on the seas like the titanic

 

 Numbers, different values , snuggling in people’ pockets. Rip the sound of tearing, happiness gone.

it gives his a shake,
And laughs until its belly aches.
The only other sound's the break,
Of distant waves and birds awake.

This animal, lazy and deep,
But he has promises to keep,
After grass and lots of sleep.
Sweet dreams come to him cheap.