Greenberg, Barbara L. “The Faithful Wife.” Literature: Reading, Reacting, Writing Ed. Laurie G. Kirszner and Stephen R. Mandell. 4th ed. Compact. Orlando: Harcourt College Publishers, 2000. 630
The Faithful Wife
by Kelli Brown
“The Faithful Wife” by Barbara L. Greenberg is a fascinating, satirical account of what the speaker would do if she were unfaithful to her husband. Upon the first reading of this poem, I thought the woman in this poem was saying that her husband was irreplaceable and because of that she would never be unfaithful. Also I thought that if she did betray him, she would choose someone totally different from him, which somehow wouldn’t dishonor this great man. However, with repeated reading, my opinion changed. Greenberg did an incredible job of revealing the truth of the situation. She used verbal irony to explain how the wife in the poem is actually revealing the relationship she does have with her husband and describing the type of relationship she would like to have.
Greenberg uses more formal diction to convey her message in “The Faithful Wife.” The poem is not written in everyday language. It is missing the colloquial elements of contractions and slang. While it seems to be a conversation anyone could have, it is not written in a way that would be used in everyday conversation. People would not normally say, “He and I would eat at Howard Johnson’s which you and I do not enjoy” (630). Instead, we would say something like “We would eat at Howard Johnson’s because you don’t like it.” This more formal conversation and speaker’s tone, which is condescending, suggests a detachment the wife feels toward her husband.
Greenberg is so clever with the use of verbal irony throughout the poem. The wife is really being sarcastic to her husband, in an attempt to reveal her desires that are evidently ignored. The main line that triggered my understanding was, “Not strong, not proud, not just, not provident, my lover would blame me for his heart’s distress, which you would never think to do” (630). Once again, I initially thought she was complimenting her husband and showing him great respect. This strong, proud, just and provident man seemed perfect. However, the choice of words “…my lover would blame me for his heart’s distress…” is what enlightened my thinking (630). The wife wanted to be so important to her husband that she would be the only thing that causes him distress. She actually resents this prideful man who seems to make everything else more important that her.
There is even irony in the poem’s title, “The Faithful Wife.” Yes, the speaker is a faithful wife, but because of duty not because of the desires of her heart. The desires of her heart are all the things she says she and her lover would do. The message to her husband is that he is doing the complete opposite of what she wants and in so doing is interfering with her personal fulfillment. At the end of the poem she even offers the suggestion that all he’d have to do to find out about her is ask. “I would know him with my other body, the one that you have never asked to see” (630).
Greenberg skillfully conveyed her passion through the use of language, imagery, and irony in “The Faithful Wife.” The wife cannot show her husband parts of her that she would like, because he doesn’t seem interested, she therefore describes how she would do things differently with a lover. At the end of the poem you’re left with a sense of frustration over the distress of the wife. You wish her husband would open his eyes and see what his wife needs. You’d like to tell him to relax and do some of the things his wife enjoys, like fishing, dancing, etc. Greenberg’s talent as a poet is obvious. Through one short poem she reveals a complex message, challenges the reader’s comprehension, and stirs the reader’s emotions. What a skillful writer!
Work Cited
Greenberg, Barbara L. “The Faithful Wife.” Literature: Reading, Reacting, Writing Ed. Laurie G. Kirszner and Stephen R. Mandell. 4th ed. Compact. Orlando: Harcourt College Publishers, 2000. 630
