Comparing Betrayal and Loss of Innocence in ‘Cousin Kate’ and ‘The Seduction’

into a trap, with no genuine intention of love or marriage. He treated her as if she were merely a possession, comparing her to a silken knot in his metaphorical description. The poem consistently employs metaphors and similes in the second stanza, such as referring to her as a plaything and a silken knot, emphasizing the fleeting and fragile nature of their relationship. The way she portrays herself as becoming impure, longing to have been an innocent dove rather than an unclean entity, suggests that her disgraceful association with the Lord has tainted her once virtuous and pure image.'

The reference to 'shameless shameful life' suggests that she was unaware of the extent of her own shame and the negativity in her life. The phrase 'woe's me for joy thereof' implies that the small amount of happiness she experienced while with the Lord now brings her a lifetime of misery. The poem describes how the Lord 'cast her by' and instead chose her cousin-Kate to be in his presence. The line 'He lifted you from mean estate to sit with him on high' evokes an image of Kate and the lord sitting on thrones atop a mountain, while the persona, dressed in tattered clothing, works in a nearby field. This image serves to highlight the stark contrast between Kate, who is now 'good and pure', and the persona. The line 'He bound you with his ring' symbolizes the connection or commitment between Kate and the Lord.

The persona's love for the Lord is not as strong as the Lord's love for Kate. The persona feels used by the Lord while acknowledging the sincerity of the Lord's love

for Kate. The contrasting imagery of "dust" and "gold" represents the stark difference in their lives. The persona is left stained and branded as an outcast, while Kate lives a happy life filled with wealth and material possessions. The following lines suggest two possible interpretations: either the persona's love for the Lord was genuine but Kate was luckier, or the persona was easily seduced due to her blind love for the Lord, while Kate was more resolute and demanded marriage before anything else. The next stanza expresses the persona's bitterness and hatred towards both the Lord and her Cousin.

'Your love was like words written in sand' - indicating that the love was unstable and easily erased. 'If he had deceived you instead of me' - expressing the speaker's empathy towards the person they are addressing. 'He wouldn't have won me over with his love or bought me with his wealth' - once again implying that Kate was attracted to the Lord's riches and social standing. 'I would have shown him my disgust' - highlighting the speaker's disdain for the Lord's actions. The final verse concludes with a triumphant tone, as the speaker mentions the one thing the Lord lacks - a son and heir to his noble title.

Kate is unable to have a child, causing her worry and longing. She possesses material things like clothes and a wedding ring but still yearns for a child. The narrator experiences conflicting emotions towards her son, feeling both shame and pride. Society considers him an "outcast thing," yet the narrator takes pride in having a child that cannot be taken away. "The Seduction" shares similarities with "Cousin Kate,"

as it revolves around a young girl seduced by a boy at Birkenhead docks party. Descriptive words like "frightening scum" and "septic wound" create an eerie atmosphere in the setting. The opening lines of the poem instantly reveal the seducer's actions and set the scene.

The lines 2, 3, and 4 convey a feeling of solitude. The phrase 'blind windows' symbolizes the girl's loneliness, as nobody will witness her plight or offer assistance. It seems that the line 'away from the quiet bricks of Birkenhead docks' suggests that only the bricks can witness the events, but they are unable to relay the information to anyone else. In the initial portion of the poem, the persona is intoxicated, leaving her in a state of confusion and detached from the harsh reality.

The poem emphasizes the innocence of the persona through phrases like 'giggle', 'wide blue eyes', and 'high white shoes'. In contrast, the seducer is portrayed as less innocent with phrases such as 'he swiftly contrived to kiss her', 'He spat into the river', 'muttered little slag', and 'eyes as blue as iodine'. This contrast effectively highlights the innocent image the girl sees versus reality. The girl sees the seducer as a blue-eyed hero and fails to see the danger she is in. She views him as a potential boyfriend or first true love, blinded to the consequences of her actions. Her mistake will ultimately ruin her life. The second half of the poem focuses on the persona's thoughts and feelings after discovering her pregnancy. 'She sobbed in the cool locked darkness of her room' symbolizes her isolation and loneliness.

The speaker is frustrated with herself and teenage

magazines, which she strongly blames. However, it is strange that there is no further mention of the seducer, who is the cause of her frustration in Cousin Kate. The simile 'like confetti' makes me think of marriage, commitment, and being tied down, similar to how her life will be after having a child. It also alludes to her dreams of a fairytale wedding, which will likely remain just a dream. The repetition in the lines 'truly, truly frightened' and 'stupid, stupid promises' amplifies the impact of these words, conveying the intense emotion she is experiencing. In the second stanza, there is a portrayal of a stereotypical 'teenage magazine world,' a cruel reminder of what she believes she is missing out on. The line 'She was sickened every morning' could have a dual meaning: she is sickened by both the betrayal of the magazines and by being pregnant and experiencing morning sickness. 'Walk hand in hand on a carpeted floor' paints an image of how life should be for a teenager – innocent and protected from the harsh realities of the world. The following stanza expresses the speaker's shame and anger towards herself for falling into the 'despicable, feminine void' of teenage pregnancy.

She states a preference for unemployment or drug addiction over becoming pregnant, which many people find strange. However, I believe she means to say that being unemployed or addicted to drugs garners more sympathy from others. While these circumstances may be new, modern, and easily entangled in, teenage pregnancy has existed for years. Despite countless warnings given to all teenagers, she has not learned from the mistakes made by countless women before her. The

concluding lines, "better now to turn away. Move away, fade away," effectively convey her desire to escape or even die because she believes her life is already over and she cannot face society's criticisms of "She always looked the type." In contrast to "Cousin Kate," "The Seduction" delves into the brutal reality of the situation in great detail.

'Cousin Kate' appears to be more concise and lighthearted, possibly due to its rhyme scheme, setting, and language reminiscent of a fairy tale. This tone is not as emotionally impactful compared to phrases such as "so now I moan an unclean thing," "Woe's me joy thereof," and "I sit and howl in dust." These words fail to convey a realistic or distressing depiction of the girls' situations, unlike terms like "little slag," "despicable feminine void," and "green as a septic wound." Both poems portray a loss of innocence and a sense of betrayal by men and society. However, the concept of 'blame' differs greatly between the two poems. While 'The Seduction' is a more contemporary piece, the girl's resentment towards teenage magazines cannot be justified in today's world. These magazines have evolved to educate young girls and boys about the dangers of unprotected sex. Although magazines have become more informative, teenage pregnancy remains an uncomfortable and sensitive issue that the majority of society deems unacceptable. In comparison, the story of Cousin Kate is a less controversial and convoluted tale.

The context of the poem has a fairy tale-like quality and a structured narrative that includes a clear beginning, middle, and end. The poem has a simple sing-song structure that diminishes its emotional impact. However, there are also hints

of a fairy tale theme in "The Seduction" with words like "enchanted" and "wide blue eyes." These words serve to create an image of the seducer in the persona's mind on the night of the seduction. In the second half of the poem, the persona's thoughts about what she has lost are presented in a blurry, subconscious-like pattern, adding to the confusion and emotion that the girl experiences after discovering her pregnancy. The verses resemble a stream of consciousness as her mind delves into memories of the promises made by the person she blames, including references to teenage magazines. All of these elements effectively contribute to the poignant emotion evoked throughout the poem.