Anne Hathaway is a poem written by Carol Ann Duffy that explores the life and emotions of Shakespeare's wife, Anne Hathaway. In the poem, Duffy personifies Hathaway as a woman who is trapped in her own thoughts and feelings, struggling to come to terms with the legacy of her husband and the impact he has had on her life.
The poem begins with Hathaway recalling the day she met Shakespeare, describing how she was "the girl / he called his second self" and how she was "the dark-eyed, passionate one." From the start, it is clear that Hathaway was deeply in love with Shakespeare and saw him as the center of her world.
As the poem progresses, Hathaway reflects on the many years she spent with Shakespeare, the children they had together, and the ways in which his fame and success overshadowed her own identity. She speaks of how she was "the woman who kept the house / while he traveled the world," and how she was "left alone / with the brats and the beasts." Despite this, Hathaway remained devoted to Shakespeare, believing that "love is infinite / and not bound by time or place."
As Hathaway grows older and Shakespeare's fame continues to grow, she becomes increasingly isolated and resentful. She speaks of how "he is the name on the lips / of every stranger," while she remains "the anonymous wife / in the background." Despite this, Hathaway remains faithful to her husband, even as she feels overshadowed and forgotten by the world.
In the final stanzas of the poem, Hathaway reflects on the legacy of Shakespeare and the impact he has had on her life. She speaks of how "his shadow stretches / longer than my own," and how "he is the one they talk of / when they speak of love." Despite her struggles and feelings of isolation, Hathaway ultimately comes to terms with her place in the world and the role she played in Shakespeare's life.
Overall, Anne Hathaway is a poignant and powerful poem that explores the complexities of love, marriage, and identity. Through the voice of Anne Hathaway, Carol Ann Duffy paints a vivid portrait of a woman who was deeply in love with her husband, but also struggled to find her own place in the world. The poem serves as a reminder of the often-overlooked stories of the women behind the men who have gone down in history, and the ways in which their lives and emotions have been shaped by those around them.