Presentation of Myra Hinley in the Devils Wife

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In ‘The Devils Wife’ Carol Ann Duffy’s presentation of Myra Hinley can be interpreted in many ways. The language Duffy uses is effective in showing the corruption of Hinley by Ian Brady, this effect is created using the short sentences and language which is blunt and doesn’t flow well. This effect makes it seem as though everything seems to be happening very fast for Hindley as if she's got no control over her own actions almost; 'I know it was me who was there.' this make it seem as though she is acting without thinking as though she has no personal control and it shows the corruption that has come from being obsessed with ‘the devil.’ The language used is very blunt, this helps the reader see how Hindley is drained of humanity because of Brady, ‘He held my heart in his fist and squeezed it dry’. Sentences ans sections of poems are repeated which gives the impression of Hinley slowly losing her mind throughout the poem. Duffy uses language very effectively, in parts of the poem almost creating a sense of sympathy for Hinley at the same time as making her seem evil. When reading the poem Duffy’s opinion of Hinley is hard to understand. She seems to sympathies with Hinley in some areas of the poem however in other areas the poem emphasises how evil Hinley is. During the first stanza Duffy creates the impression that anyone could become a murderer and this creates the impression that she seems interested in Hinley especially since it is stereotypically men who commit crimes like the Moors Murders . Throughout the poem Duffy highlights things that make Hinley seem evil and makes the reader feel like this is how Duffy feels, but as the poem begins to show Hinley losing her mind and regretting the crimes it seems like Duffy feels sympathy. The poem is structured in to five different sections each with its own stanzas. Some of the stanza’s are single lines which makes

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