Mrs Midas Flashcards
Give a brief summary of Love
Mrs Midas is told from the point of view of the mythological King Midas’s wife. King Midas was granted one wish and he chose to turn everything he touch into gold. Whilst the poem is humorous, we get a true sense of love that Mrs Midas had for King Midas, enhancing her sense of loss.
State quotes based on Love
- “You see we were passionate then” The separateness of the couple is further highlighted by contrasting it with the fulfilling and passionate relationship they had before Midas granted his wish.
- ” What gets me now is not the idiocy or greed but lack of thought for me” Final stanza stresses Mrs Midas’ anger at her husband, in making a wish that not only affected him but also deprived them of both any physical relationship and his wife of a chance to have her dream baby.
- “I miss most, even now, his hands, his warm hands on my skin, his touch.” Repetition of ‘hands’ emphasises too that his touch, once a potent symbol of their love, is gone forever and reminds us that un like skin to skin contact, gold is cold and hard.
Give a brief summary on Hate
Whilst the poem is humorous, it is clear that Mrs Midas hates, or certainly resents, her husband, to a certain extent, because he has been so selfish. They can no longer be intimate or show affection.
State quotes based on Hate
- “I made him sit on the other end of the room and keep his hands to himself.” Suggestion that Midas still seeks a physical relationship Mrs Midas. The fact he is made to sit on the other end of the room represents the distance in their relationship brought on by circumstances.
- “Separate beds.” Word choice summarises full effect of Midas’ greed on their relationship.
Give a brief summary based on Isolation/loneliness
Mrs Midas is left lonely and isolated as she cannot have an intimate relationship with her husband. She desperately misses his touch.
State quotes based on Isolation/loneliness
- “Separate beds.” Word choice summaries full effect of Midas’ greed on their relationship.
- “What gets me now is not the idiocy or greed but lack of thought for me.” The final stanza in the poem stresses Mrs Midas’ anger towards her husband in making that wish not only due to it affecting him but also depriving them of physical touch but also her to be able to have her dream baby.
Give a brief summary based on relationships
Kind Midas’ selfish decision to have everything he touch turn to gold, saw the breakdown of his relationship with his wife, and all those closest to him.
State quotes based on relationships?
- “Separate beds.” Word Choice summarises full effect of Midas’ greed on their relationship in one single statement.
- “we were passionate then” the separation between the couple highlights the contrast to before Midas granted his wish, the fulfilling and passionate relationship they once had.
Give a brief summary based on suffering
Both king Midas and Mrs Midas suffer emotionally because of King Midas’ selfish decision. King Midas also suffers physically as he is no longer able to eat anything he touches turns to gold.
State quotes based on suffering
- “I poured with a shaking hand” Word choice further emphasises Mrs Midas’ anxiety over what is happening right now.
- “scream” Word choice emphasises Mrs Midas’ horror as she finally sees what her husbands wish has granted him.
Give a brief summary based on transition
In this poem the speaker is coming to terms with her husband’s selfish decision and, as a result, they both have to learn to adapt and cope with the breakdown of their relationship.
Give a brief summary based on Loss
Mrs Midas feels an overwhelming sense of loss as she is forced to distance herself, emotionally and physically, from her husband who turns everything that he touches.
State some quotes based on Loss
- “Separate beds.” Word choice summarises full effect of Midas’ greed on their relationship in one statement.
- “So he had to move out” Mrs Midas bluntly informs us the consequences the myth/wish and the effect on their lives and how it has destroyed their relationship.
