Betrayal and Revenge in "Last Supper" Poem by Liz Lochhead
Last Supper
By BOATANK
Last Supper
Last Supper by Liz Lochhead is a poem
in which explores the themes of
unfaithfulness, deceit, humiliation and
Karma being a bitch. This is shown
with a common scenario, this being a
cheating boyfriend who lies and trys to
hide his dirty secret from his partner.
She eventually finds out and gives him
a good roasting with her friends. These
themes are explored through the use
of Lochheads many techniques. These
consist of Similes, imagery, parenthesis
and short sentences. These help to
highlight the protonate them of
unfaithfulness throughout.
She is getting
good and ready
to renounce his
sweet flesh.
Not just lent.
(For
ever
“Sweet” shows
the sick
pleasure and
satisfaction
that she is
getting out of
what she is
about to do.
The title “Last supper” helps
the reader to understand that
the woman of the poem is
having a last meal with her old
love before she cuts all ties
and devours him and his lies.
Clear Biblical illusions. It’s as
he if has committed a crime so
great he must be crucified for
it. This Also shows her rage as
the she is ready to end the
relationship is such a harsh
and brutal way.
Last Supper
Alliteration, this contrasts
with the religious element.
As when enrolled in any
religion one of the most
well known teachings is
that a back is never turned
on a person. If help is
needed it is given.
Parenthesis. Not just
ignoring him, completely
rejecting him and all that
he has done. Not a shred
of forgiveness there.
(capital letter and
enjambment makes this
clear to the reader
Stanza 2
But meanwhile she is
assembling the ingredients
for their last treat, the
proper feast (after all
didn’t they always eat
together
Making a meal in
what seems to be a
romantic setting
which seems to
show love and
affection. This only
prolongs the
inevitable, as the
she only wants to
hurt and lie to him
as much as he has
to her
Parodying how she
would normally be,
as she is leaving him.
“
last treat” suggest the
separation, like one of
them is going to
disappear.
Tells the reader that
her plan is a go.
Whilst other things
still need to fall in
plac
e
This is displaying the
boyfriends absence.
Possibly showing when
he is with other women
and cheating on his
current girlfriend
Stanza 3
rather more than rather
well?) So here she is
tearing foliage, scrambling
the salad, maybe lighting
candles even, anyway
stepping back to admire
the effect of the table
she’s made (and oh yes
now will have to lie on)
the silverware, the nicely
al- dente vegetables, the
cooked goose. He could
be depended on to bring
the bottle plus betrayal
with a kiss.
Suggest that there was
an emphasis of quantity
rather than quality
whilst the couple spent
time together. As even
though a lot of time was
spent together this lead
no where. Eventually
leading the man a stray
Rhetorical
question
This hints at a
romantic scene
but the “tearing”
suggest a more
violent scene.
Something being
separated.
Image of him physically
lying down. Play on the
pun “you’ve made your
bed now you must lie in
it. Showing that he
should of committed
himself to the
relationship but didn’t
He has
been
caught
She is putting care,
attention and effort into
her revenge. This is a
ritual for the man as every
time he comes over he
brings a bottle. This is
sarcastic as he has clearly
cheated on her but brings
a romantic gesture to her
as if nothing has
happened.
Stanza 4
Already she was
imagining it done
with, this feast, and
exactly what kind of
leftover hash she’d
make of it among
friends, when it was
just The Girls, when
those three met
again. What very good
soup she could render
from the bones, then
something
substantial,
something extra tasty
if not elegant
.
Really looking forward to
her meal with friends.
Alludes to
Macbeth and
the Witches.
As these
women believe
themselves to
be all knowing
and
unbeatable.
Showing their
flaws. Their
cockiness.
“The Girls” this tile
for her friends
shows a closeness. A
bond.- contrast with
his dirty deeds.
This shows the
amount of
gossip the
women will
have.
This shows
the reader
that the
women do
it often.
Like its
almost a
tradition.
Reference
to what
she will
do with all
her
power.
Stanza 5
Yes, there they’d be
cackling around the
cauldron, spitting out the
gristlier bits of his giblets;
gnawing on the
knucklebone of some
intricate irony; getting
grave and dainty at the
petit-gout mouthfuls of
reported speech.
This is a reference to
Macbeth, taking the
tone of the poem to
something more
sinister.
Alliteration is also
found here along
with onomatopoeia,
this helps the reader
to understand their
predatory behaviour
“
Gnawing” helps to
suggest to the
reader that the
women are
continuously talking
about him.
Constantly chewing
him over to see if
they can find
anymore juicy meat
on the bone. As a
dog would.
Witches
Stanza 6
‘
That’s rich!’ they’d
splutter, munching the
lies, fat and sizzling as
sausages. Then they’d sink
back gorged on truth and
their own savage integrity,
sleek on it all, preening
like corbies, their bright
eyes blinking satisfied till
somebody would get
hungry and go hunting
again.
Visual image of the women
laughing in disgust at the
mans unfortunate mistake
This suggest to the
reader that his “lies”
are a horrid filling
substance, of which
these women thrive
on. Possibly needing
this to survive.
Phallic imagery, showing
the reader that these
women are devouring the
mans masculinity in the
from of a good roasting.
The women are
satisfied now
having got their
“full”.
The women are
becoming like
animals- crows
reference to the
“Two Twa
Corbies”. This
shows that these
women like crows
like to pick apart
their victims.
Feeding on the his
masculinity
The women enjoy this
picking apart of the
mans flaws, which
suggests a level of
hypocrisy.
"Last Supper" by Liz Lochhead delves into themes of unfaithfulness, deceit, humiliation, and revenge through the narrative of a cheating boyfriend exposed by his partner. The poem employs various literary techniques like similes, imagery, and parenthesis to vividly depict the protagonist's wrath and the impending end of the relationship. The title alludes to a final confrontation, portrayed with biblical undertones, as the woman prepares to sever ties with her unfaithful lover in a brutal manner. The poem explores the dynamics of betrayal and retribution in relationships, showcasing the depth of hurt and the desire for redemption.
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Presentation Transcript
Last Supper By BOATANK
Last Supper Last Supper by Liz Lochhead is a poem in which explores the themes of unfaithfulness, deceit, humiliation and Karma being a bitch. This is shown with a common scenario, this being a cheating boyfriend who lies and trys to hide his dirty secret from his partner. She eventually finds out and gives him a good roasting with her friends. These themes are explored through the use of Lochheads many techniques. These consist of Similes, imagery, parenthesis and short sentences. These help to highlight the protonate them of unfaithfulness throughout.
The title Last supper helps the reader to understand that the woman of the poem is having a last meal with her old love before she cuts all ties and devours him and his lies. Clear Biblical illusions. It s as he if has committed a crime so great he must be crucified for it. This Also shows her rage as the she is ready to end the relationship is such a harsh and brutal way. Last Supper Alliteration, this contrasts with the religious element. As when enrolled in any religion one of the most well known teachings is that a back is never turned on a person. If help is needed it is given. She is getting good and ready to renounce his sweet flesh. Not just lent. (For ever Sweet shows the sick pleasure and satisfaction that she is getting out of what she is about to do. Parenthesis. Not just ignoring him, completely rejecting him and all that he has done. Not a shred of forgiveness there. (capital letter and enjambment makes this clear to the reader
Stanza 2 last treat suggest the separation, like one of them is going to disappear. Tells the reader that her plan is a go. Whilst other things still need to fall in place But meanwhile she is assembling the ingredients for their last treat, the proper feast (after all didn t they always eat together Making a meal in what seems to be a romantic setting which seems to show love and affection. This only prolongs the inevitable, as the she only wants to hurt and lie to him as much as he has to her This is displaying the boyfriends absence. Possibly showing when he is with other women and cheating on his current girlfriend Parodying how she would normally be, as she is leaving him.
Stanza 3 Suggest that there was an emphasis of quantity rather than quality whilst the couple spent time together. As even though a lot of time was spent together this lead no where. Eventually leading the man a stray Rhetorical question attention and effort into her revenge. This is a ritual for the man as every time he comes over he brings a bottle. This is sarcastic as he has clearly cheated on her but brings a romantic gesture to her as if nothing has happened. This hints at a romantic scene but the tearing suggest a more violent scene. Something being separated. rather more than rather well?) So here she is tearing foliage, scrambling the salad, maybe lighting candles even, anyway stepping back to admire the effect of the table she s made (and oh yes now will have to lie on) the silverware, the nicely al- dente vegetables, the cooked goose. He could be depended on to bring the bottle plus betrayal with a kiss. She is putting care, Image of him physically lying down. Play on the pun you ve made your bed now you must lie in it. Showing that he should of committed himself to the relationship but didn t He has been caught
Stanza 4 This shows the reader that the women do it often. Like its almost a tradition. Really looking forward to her meal with friends. The Girls this tile for her friends shows a closeness. A bond.- contrast with his dirty deeds. Already she was imagining it done with, this feast, and exactly what kind of leftover hash she d make of it among friends, when it was just The Girls, when those three met again. What very good soup she could render from the bones, then something substantial, something extra tasty if not elegant. Reference to what she will do with all her power. Alludes to Macbeth and the Witches. As these women believe themselves to be all knowing and unbeatable. Showing their flaws. Their cockiness. This shows the amount of gossip the women will have.
Stanza 5 This is a reference to Macbeth, taking the tone of the poem to something more sinister. Yes, there they d be cackling around the cauldron, spitting out the gristlier bits of his giblets; gnawing on the knucklebone of some intricate irony; getting grave and dainty at the petit-gout mouthfuls of reported speech. Gnawing helps to suggest to the reader that the women are continuously talking about him. Constantly chewing him over to see if they can find anymore juicy meat on the bone. As a dog would. Alliteration is also found here along with onomatopoeia, this helps the reader to understand their predatory behaviour Witches
This suggest to the reader that his lies are a horrid filling substance, of which these women thrive on. Possibly needing this to survive. Stanza 6 Visual image of the women laughing in disgust at the mans unfortunate mistake That s rich! they d splutter, munching the lies, fat and sizzling as sausages. Then they d sink back gorged on truth and their own savage integrity, sleek on it all, preening like corbies, their bright eyes blinking satisfied till somebody would get hungry and go hunting again. Phallic imagery, showing the reader that these women are devouring the mans masculinity in the from of a good roasting. The women are satisfied now having got their full . The women are becoming like animals- crows reference to the Two Twa Corbies . This shows that these women like crows like to pick apart their victims. Feeding on the his masculinity The women enjoy this picking apart of the mans flaws, which suggests a level of hypocrisy.
