Poetry

Last Supper

Summary of the Poem

• Liz Lochhead's poem "Last Supper" portrays a woman preparing a final meal to mark the end of her unsatisfactory relationship.
• Instead of portraying the woman as a victim, Lochhead presents her as a predator, converting her lover's infidelity into a source of sustenance for herself and her friends.
• The poem explores the dark and toxic aspects of certain female friendships, challenging conventional perceptions of women betrayed by unfaithful partners.

Inspiration for the Poem

• The poem challenges conventional notions of women betrayed by unfaithful partners, presenting the woman as a predator rather than a victim.
• It explores the negative aspects of some female friendships, highlighting the contempt some women can have for men.

Form of the Poem

• Written in free verse with irregular stanzas and no rhyme scheme.
• Enjambment is used to emphasise key words, such as in the third and fourth stanzas where onomatopoeic verbs like "spitting", "gnawing", and "munching" draw attention to the women's consumption of relationship details.
• Sparse punctuation, but grammatically correct sentences, create a sense of control and order in the woman's actions.

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Poetry

Explanation of each stanza

Stanza 1:

In the opening stanza of "Last Supper," the poem introduces a woman who has been betrayed by her lover. She is preparing a final meal, symbolising the end of their unsatisfactory relationship. The title of the poem, a reference to the biblical "Last Supper", highlights the ambiguity of whether this meal is for the unfaithful man or the woman and her friends. The woman is certain the relationship is over and uses puns and irony to express her determination not to forgive her lover's infidelity. This stanza sets the stage for the themes of infidelity and the negative aspects of some female friendships.

Stanza 2:

In the second stanza, the focus shifts from the meal for the unfaithful lover to the woman's anticipation of sharing the details of the relationship's end with her friends, referred to as "The Girls". She envisions enjoying a different kind of meal, where they feast on the "bones" of their affair. The metaphor of consuming the relationship's remains suggests a disturbing pleasure in dissecting the failures of the romance. This stanza explores the theme of female solidarity turned sinister and reflects the idea that the breakup provides some sustenance for the women.

Stanza 3:

The third stanza continues with a sinister mood, evoking imagery reminiscent of the witches in Shakespeare's "Macbeth". The women are depicted as cooking witches, spitting out and gnawing on the gritty details of the man's "giblets". The language becomes gruesome, emphasising the women's determination to savour and pick apart every aspect of the failed relationship. The alliteration and descriptions highlight the predatory and malevolent nature of their actions, contributing to the themes of negative female relationships and misandry.

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Poetry

Stanza 4:

The final stanza opens with direct speech, as the women react with indignation, suggesting a gleeful anticipation of consuming the lies and infidelity of the man. The women are likened to predators, munching on the man's lies like sausages. Lochhead forces readers to confront the fact that these women derive pleasure from celebrating the failure of men, portraying them as scavengers. The imagery is almost reminiscent of sexual fulfillment, suggesting the women's satisfaction at reaching the climax of their discussion. The poem concludes with a depiction of the women as predators, preening like "corbies" (crows or ravens), which alludes to an old Scottish poem. This stanza emphasises the themes of negative female relationships and the toxic celebration of men's failures.

Themes

Negative Aspects of Female Friendships

• Quote: "That's rich! They'd splutter."
• Development: The poem exposes the corrosive and toxic effects of some female friendships, where women derive pleasure from sharing details of failed relationships and celebrating the failure of men.

Challenge to Conventional Perceptions of Betrayed Women

• Quote: "the woman imagines celebrating the end of this relationship by feasting on her ex-lover's carcass."
• Development: Instead of portraying the betrayed woman as a victim, the poem challenges conventional perceptions, presenting her as a predator who converts her lover's infidelity into a source of sustenance and empowerment.

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Poetry

Imagery:

Predatory Women

• Quote: "there they'd be cackling round the cauldron/spitting out the gristlier bits/of his giblets."
• Development: The imagery evokes Macbeth's witches, portraying the women as malevolent figures who greedily consume the details of the failed relationship.

Women as Scavengers

• Quote: "sated, the women sink back/gorged on truth/and their own savage integrity."
• Development: The poem describes the women as scavengers, feasting on the truth and displaying a kind of savage integrity, exposing the hypocrisy of their celebration of men's failures.

Style Techniques:

Pun and Irony

• Quote: "The table she's made/ (and oh yes now/will have to lie on)."
• Development: The poem uses puns and irony to convey the woman's determination to confront her lover and the lies he will feed her across the table.

Metaphor and Religious Allusion

• Quote: "The very definite parenthetical For ever helps to convey her absolute certainty that the relationship is over and has no hope of resurrection."
• Development: The poem uses metaphor and religious allusion to emphasise the finality of the relationship's end and the unforgivable nature of infidelity.

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Poetry

Language Techniques:

Sarcasm and Sardonic Tone

• Quote: "That's rich! They'd splutter."
• Development: The poem uses a sardonic tone and sarcasm to highlight the women's contempt for men and their celebration of the man's failure.

Metaphor and Alliteration

• Quote: "gnawing on the knucklebone of some/intricate irony"
• Development: The poem uses metaphor and alliteration to describe the women's methodical and deliberate consumption of the details of the breakup, emphasising their gluttony.

Personal Reflection

1. How does the poem challenge your perceptions of female friendships and the way women may react to betrayal and infidelity, and what emotions does this challenge evoke in you?

2. In 'Last Supper,' the woman transforms her lover's betrayal into a source of empowerment. How does this shift in perspective affect your view of the dynamics between genders and the concept of reclaiming control in the face of betrayal?

3. What does the poem reveal about the complexities of human relationships and the potential for hidden depths of resentment and revenge? How might this affect the way you perceive the motivations and emotions of people in your own life?