What are the Central ideas/themes and concerns of the poem? How does the poet reveal them to the audience? .
The central ideas of the poem Women To Man and Eve To Her Daughters by Judith Wright are a women's feelings about the birth of her child and Man's obsession with technology and women's submissiveness. The poet uses listing, imagery, metaphor, alliteration and biblical allusion to convey the meaning of the poem. .
In Women To Man, the persona is contemplating the birth of her baby. The persona is excited about the impending birth. She is amazed at the growth of the baby. She describes the layers of the baby's body as the "intricate and folded rose." She describes the creation of the baby as "our hunter and our chase." At the same time the women fears the birth. She says "the blaze of light along the blade" when thinking about the moment of birth. At the end of the poem she simply but powerfully states that "I am afraid". .
Judith Wright as well uses metaphor skilfully in Women To Man. Many of her metaphors are complex and powerful. The persona again describes her baby as "our hunter and our chase" giving the meaning of the blind force lovemaking, which has driven the two lovers together. However at the same time they "chase" the goal of reproduction. The striking metaphor "This is the blood's wild tree that grows the intricate and folded rose" suggest the image of the body of the baby as the word "tree" suggests the tree of life, while "wild" suggests the passion that created the child. .
Judith Wright also uses the poetic technique of alliteration in Women To Man. The persona describes the bearing of the child as "The selfless, shapeless seed I hold". The poem starts gentle and soft until she says " the blind head butting at the dark". This image suggests the violent unspoken action of childbirth. .
On the other hand, Eve To Her Daughters explores Judith Wright's concern with the duality of man and nature and the need for man to feel superior.