To What Extent Does Caroline Duffy’s Poem Little Red-Cap Support Feminist Ideals?

Feminism is a constant point of controversy within literature. Little Red-Cap by Caroline Duffy is a
twist on one of the oldest children’s stories, Little Red Riding-hood. However Duffy changes the
story, giving the characters different roles and depicting them in different ways. Due to this she has
changed the way people view women in society triggering positive effects for those who believe that
both sexes should have equal rights. Although, through this she has caused disagreement with those
who view women as inferior. On account of this change in storyline, feminists have viewed this as a
step forward in breaking the stereotypically male dominated theme of literature and books.

Throughout this poem Duffy gives Little Red-Cap certain characteristics that are supposed to show
empowerment for women. This is evident when Little Red-Cap "made sure he spotted [her] …" this
could suggest that young women believe that life revolves around the 'male gaze', which most
feminists find derogatory. However the fact that she “made sure” could show her eagerness, and her
control over the relationship. The way that Duffy presents Little Red-Cap could be seen as
empowering, as she is described as "… sweet sixteen, never been, babe, waif”. Duffy sexualises
Little Red-Cap by suggesting that she is sixteen which is a very important fact to consider to a
modern audience as this is supposed to represent a coming of age. However it could also be argued
that because of this apparent sexuality, Duffy has conformed to the idea of the ‘male gaze’, despite
this it seems unlikely. This could also be referred back to Duffy’s own life, how she sought out the
man she wanted and he was considerably older, much like the Wolf and Little Red-Cap. Through this
it could be suggested that Duffy was trying to support the idea of feminism and sexuality. The idea
that she is "sweet” and innocent can be seen as ironic as later on in the poem when she kills the
Wolf. The definition of "waif" is an item or a person that is 'unclaimed'. Often the woman is
considered the property of a man, and therefore referring to herself as a "waif" contradicts the
stereotypical depiction of women.

One of the oldest beliefs about the sexes is that women are inferior to men. This is constantly
argued about between feminists and religious groups. Duffy has challenged these boundaries that
were set by religion and depicted her protagonist within the poem as strong and independent in her
choices. Within the fifth stanza Little Red-Cap is depicted with an axe, "I took an axe…". This short
sentence shows the action as impulsive, whilst using the broken line, the caesura draws out the
relatively short sentence. However, there is an element of rehearsal with this quote as she "[I]took
the axe to a willow to see how it wept… [I] took an axe to a salmon to see how it leapt…. [I] took an
axe to the wolf as he slept ". The repetition of "I took an axe" could show how Little Red-Cap learnt
to use the weapon. The idea that a woman would be able to wield such an instrument would not fit
into the stereotypical submissive category. This shows strength, skill and equality. This could also
symbolise the change in equality for women. The idea that she is breaking the stereotypical mould of
a submissive woman is very dominant.

In contradiction to this idea of empowerment Duffy shows the female protagonist as submissive as
her name suggests that she is "little" or young, creating a veil of innocence and purity, consequently
supporting religious theories. Another aspect of the poem to support this theory is that she ‘crawled
in his wake’, this could reiterate the idea of the submissive woman. However through demonstrating
this, Duffy has shown that Little Red-Cap has the power within the relationship, as it is her choice to
follow the Wolf, thus displaying her power in choice. This shows that she is in control within the
relationship and contradicting the religious opinions towards women being submissive.

Dominant males within literature are conventional, whether they are the protagonist or the
antagonist, they are always seen as being in control. Through creating a strong female protagonist
Duffy has already started to show the degradation of the male persona within this poem. However,

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 To What Extent Does Caroline Duffy’s Poem Little Red-Cap Support Feminist Ideals?

there are times within the poem where this is not clear in the way in which Duffy presents Little Red-
Cap. One of these points is when her "stockings [are] ripped to shreds". Through this imagery, Duffy
sexualises her character thus subjecting her to the male gaze which supports the idea of a dominant
male character as this creates the illusion that she is weak. The fact that her stockings are “ripped to
shreds” sounds very violent and the use of the alliteration with “stockings” and “shreds” also shows
the violent vocabulary. To a modern day audience, the idea of “stockings” are very sexualised, as at
the time when the poem was first published. This can be used to reiterate the idea that Duffy is
straying from the feminist ideas through sexualising her female character.

Despite the idea of having a traditionally strong male character, Duffy depicts empowerment of
women through the castration of a man. Whilst this can be seen as preventing reproduction, it can
be seen as taking away a males power or strength. Duffy depicts this when Little Red-Cap "took the
axe… [and in] one chop, scrotum to throat" takes away everything that is masculine about the wolf.
The way the action is described is rather brutal and abrupt, it is quick and there is very little focus on
it, this could be seen as another way of degrading the male character. Through this Duffy
demonstrates male weakness. Another way in which Duffy presents the wolf as a dominant male
character is though showing him with books; this can be seen when he is "reading his verse out
loud". This shows that the male within this poem thinks that he is dominant, as reading “out loud”
makes sure that he is heard, which can be seen as an expression of supremacy.

Throughout the poem there is a repetition of sexual themes, this can be seen as Duffy showing
liberation for women’s sexuality. This can be linked with the Women’s Liberation Movement in the
1960’s. Although through doing this, she has depicted the destruction of her protagonist’s
innocence. This could be seen as coinciding with the ideas that the male is the dominant force within
the relationship thus conforming to the male gaze. However this point could be discredited through
the idea that she has planned the situation, this can be seen through the use of the rhetorical
question," You may ask why. Here's why. Poetry." The use of the meta-poetry within this line, could
also show the reader that this poem it being told by the persona retrospectively. Foreshadowing
contrast of character empowerment at the end of the poem. However there are aspects of the poem
that show the loss of innocence, “I clung till dawn to his thrashing fur” shows the destruction of
innocence thorough sex and the loss of virginity. The loss of purity and innocence is seen in a virgin
and a woman is supposed to remain a virgin until she is married. “Clung” gives the illusion of hanging
on for safety and assurance, but it also sounds rather desperate, which could be a way of showing
power. Whilst “thrashing” shows wildness, animalistic qualities that are out of control which could
suggest male power and dominance has destroyed the innocence of the woman.

However through demonstrating this within the poem Duffy has given Little Red-Cap power over her
own sexuality. This enforces the idea that the man is in control, this can be later supported by when
she "went in search of a living bird - white dove". A white dove is a symbol of innocence and purity.
The purity is killed when the dove "flew straight from my [her] hands and to his open mouth. One
bite, dead". The length of this sentence could suggest the brutal finality of the action. This is a
significant part of the poem as this is the part where the loss of innocence is more profound. This is
demonstrated through the use of death and murder of a symbol of purity. The way that Duffy shows
the loss of this purity in Little Red Cap could show the breaking of the stereotypical cliché which
could mirror her own experiences when searching for the man that she later married, this causes
controversy to more religious groups at the time of publication and even today as women are
supposed to remain ‘pure’ until marriage. However, as this poem was written in 1991, the times and
the views of women's rights and the opinions revolving their sexualities have changed significantly,

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 To What Extent Does Caroline Duffy’s Poem Little Red-Cap Support Feminist Ideals?

which has allowed for literature which depict stronger women and they are now more readily
accepted within literature.

As the poem ends that veil of innocence is reiterated with "out of the forest I come with my flowers,
singing, all alone." The flowers could symbolise purity and innocence, however, they have been
picked and are now dying and can contradict this point. "Singing" gives the illusion of joyfulness and
has a form of religious attachment which again, would suggest the innocence. However, the fact that
she is depicted as being "all alone" could symbolise strength and confidence, when a stereotypical
woman would have been seen as fearful to walk into a woods "all alone", this conforms to the
feminist movement and supports the idea of challenging gender roles. Through this the reader can
see the significance of gender roles, and how traditionally it is the younger character that conforms
to these ideals.

In conclusion, Duffy has empowered women through this poem by showing them wielding symbols
of masculinity, like books, knowledge and a physical weapon, and also by taking away the
masculinity of the main male antagonist. The constant use of breaking the stereotypes within the
poem could be Duffy’s way of trying to reiterate the point of the feminist ideals. The way in which
Duffy subverts the classic gender roles within this poem shows to demonstrate the way in which the
women in society are seen and treated, despite some contradictory themes within the poem, Duffy
is seen as an avid supporter of the feminist movement.

Word Count (with Quotes) 1,736

Word Count (Without Quotes) 1,591

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