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In Dorothy Molloy’s poem "Les Grands Seigneurs", the speaker reflects on her complex relationship with men, depicting them as both majestic and diminutive figures in her life. The poet uses rich imagery and metaphors, comparing men to vibrant creatures and supporting structures, highlighting themes of courtly love and societal expectations. As the speaker transitions from being an admired figure to a mere "toy" after marriage, Molloy critiques the diminishing status women experience in relationships. This analysis will explore how language and structure enhance the poem's themes of gender and identity.
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Les Grands Seigneurs Dorothy Molloy
Learning Objectives • AO1 – respond to texts critically and imaginatively, select and evaluate textual detail to illustrate and support interpretations. • AO2 – explain how language, structure and form contribute to writers’ presentation of ideas, themes and settings.
Les Grands Seigneurs Men were my buttresses, my castellated towers, the bowers where I took my rest. The best and worst of times were men: the peacocks and the cockatoos, the nightingales, the strutting pink flamingos. Men were my dolphins, my performing seals; my sailing-ships, the ballast in my hold. They were the rocking-horses prancing down the promenade, the bandstand where the music played. My hurdy-gurdy monkey-men.
I was their queen. I sat enthroned before them, out of reach. We played at courtly love: the troubadour, the damsel and the peach. But after I was wedded, bedded, I became (yes, overnight) a toy, a plaything, little woman, wife, a bit of fluff. My husband clicked his fingers, called my bluff.
Les Grands Seigneurs • Men were my buttresses, my castellated towers, • the bowers where I took my rest. The best and worst • of times were men: the peacocks and the cockatoos, • the nightingales, the strutting pink flamingos. References to Medieval castles. What types of birds are mentioned?
Men were my dolphins, my performing seals; my sailing ships, • the ballast in my hold. They were the rocking-horses • prancing down the promenade, the bandstand • where the music played. My hurdy-gurdy monkey-men. What is a hurdy-gurdy? What does ‘ballast’ suggest about the men?
What is the effect of this passive word? • I was their queen. I sat enthroned before them, • out of reach. We played at courtly love: • the troubadour, the damsel and the peach. Often a symbol of marriage What is the effect of the word ‘played’? French travelling minstrels famed for their songs based on courtly love.
Passive – what does this say about their relationship? • But after I was wedded, bedded, I became • (yes, overnight) a toy, a plaything, little woman, • wife, a bit of fluff. My husband clicked • his fingers, called my bluff. Her status is diminished once she is his wife. He treats her as he would treat a servant.
