"Havisham"
Miss Havisham is a character from the novel Great Expectations by Charles Dickens in 1860. She is a wealthy, unmarried old woman who lives in a mansion. When she was young, her fiance left her standing at the altar on the day of the wedding. After this event, She becomes insane who always "wears a fad[ing] wedding dress, keep[s] a decaying feast on her table, and surround[s] herself with clocks stopped at twenty minutes to nine" ("Great Expectations"). This is a significant time for the character because she finds out her fiance left her at twenty minutes to nine. Because of her heartbreak, she is mad and wants revenge.
"Beloved sweetheart bastard"
Havisham is left at the altar by her fiance, Compeyson, who she is referring to as the "sweetheart bastard" in the beginning of this poem. She still loves him but also hates him at the same time because he left her.
Havisham is left at the altar by her fiance, Compeyson, who she is referring to as the "sweetheart bastard" in the beginning of this poem. She still loves him but also hates him at the same time because he left her.
"the dress yellowing"
Because she is traumatized after being left at the altar on her wedding day, Havisham never takes off her wedding dress since then. Thus, "dress yellowing" refers to her yellowing wedding dress.
"wedding-cake"
In the novel Havisham is stuck in time when she was stood up at the alter by her fiance because her shock of her fiance leaving has not worn away. She therefore has never gotten rid of anything from that wedding day including the wedding cake which she is stabbing in the poem.
"male corpse"
This is referring to her fiance who stood her up. Duffy specifically uses the noun "corpse" to represent Havisham's hate for him.
"honeymoon"
This is referencing the honeymoon that never took place and she is trying to satisfy her anger and betrayal through a honeymoon with a corpse. Havisham had a dream of a perfect wedding and perfect love life, but it burst when she found out Compeyson left her for good from his letter.
Because she is traumatized after being left at the altar on her wedding day, Havisham never takes off her wedding dress since then. Thus, "dress yellowing" refers to her yellowing wedding dress.
"wedding-cake"
In the novel Havisham is stuck in time when she was stood up at the alter by her fiance because her shock of her fiance leaving has not worn away. She therefore has never gotten rid of anything from that wedding day including the wedding cake which she is stabbing in the poem.
"male corpse"
This is referring to her fiance who stood her up. Duffy specifically uses the noun "corpse" to represent Havisham's hate for him.
"honeymoon"
This is referencing the honeymoon that never took place and she is trying to satisfy her anger and betrayal through a honeymoon with a corpse. Havisham had a dream of a perfect wedding and perfect love life, but it burst when she found out Compeyson left her for good from his letter.