The Boasts of Hywel ab Owain Gwynedd

Themes
Love, sexual desires, unfaithfulness, betrayal


Content
Hywel was a Welsh prince and poet who died in 1170. During his lifetime he developed the first love/courting poems as well as a gorhofdedd (a 'boasting' poem) based around his exuberant love for his country. The persona in this poem boasts about having a woman every day of the week and despite believing the attraction to be emotional, the relationships are purely about the physical aspect. The voice Abse uses appears to be vulgar and egoistical, as shown through the wording and the persona metaphorically describes the women he sleeps with as various types of ruit-fragile but sweet.
Analysis

• The opening line of the poem makes reference to religious worship and prayer, suggesting that the poem will be moral and religious when in fact the line is ironic in that Sunday is the only day that the persona is not with a woman. Abse portrays the persona as mocking and self-confident and even when displaying their subservience to God, they are "skilled". Moreover, the word "zealous" implies that the persona is a passionate person, not only in relation to religion but other aspects of life as well.
• The persona then goes on to describe the woman he is with on Monday- the "busty Nest". By using the word "busty", the persona makes it clear that they are more concerned with physical appearance than an emotional connection and they use words to charm the woman into their bed. The women herself is likened to "pear blossoms" (pale and fragile flowers), thus connoting her innocence and naivety which the persona subsequently takes away-"such whiteness" is corrupted and contrasts with their brash tone.
• The next day the "scholar Gwadlus" ('Gwadlus' meaning 'lame'-degrading) is occupying the persona's bed, with this woman seeming to be starkly opposite to the woman of the previous day. It could be interpreted that the persona enjoys the knowledge that he can take any woman from any aspect of life to his bed and does not care about their backgrounds. The persona states that "not to love her is a sin"-ironically linking his actions to religion and showing just how unholy he is. The persona also has a skewed view of love as it is not love he offers but sex.
• With each woman , it is the words of the persona that persuade them to come to bed with him- "My couplets she pigeon-coos". The word "My" is in italics in order to display the self-satisfied nature of the speaker as the women are drawn in by his statements and songs. The idea of the woman's "pale cheeks" flushing "like rosy apple skin" not only implies that her innocence has been tainted but also links to the story of Adam and Eve. The persona persuaded her to sleep with him and thus, corrupted her, with the tell-tale image of the "apple" flushing her skin.
• The persona then proceeds to talk about his "Wednesday" woman-"Generys" ('mistress' in Welsh)- whom he seduces using "dry old hmyns" he has stolen. The speaker carelessly abuses religion for his own purposes and has few morals. The image of the "passion fruit" links to sex and pleasure and one interpretation of the line "I kneel to ease her" is that the persona is faking a marriage proposal to get the woman into his bed or alternatively, it could be a sexual act.
• Throughout the poem, the persona boasts of their superior speaking and literacy skills which allow them to bed woman e.g. "One small cherry-englyn and she's my devotee". An "englyn" is a traditional short Welsh poem which makes his "Thursday" woman his "devotee"-the persona desires to have control over these women and wants to feel power. This point is further reinforced by his "Friday" woman who is an "epic regular"-she has become tied to the persona and unable to get away. The persona cares little for her worries and that she wants "no baby" and mocks her through the description of her as "gooseberry vehement". He is laughing at her futile attempts to say that she does not want to sleep with him and her strong feelings concerning their 'arrangement'. For the persona, sex is his only goal and he gets this through is words- "sugared by my poetry of endearment". The use of the word "sugared" suggests that his words are a fly trap which a woman cannot escape and the constant metaphor of  fruit and flowers creates a sickly and vulgar tone.
• Moving onto the "Saturday", the persona states that they "score and score"-it is all just a game to them and they are winning. The persona even goes so far as to say that a "tidy eulogy" helps a woman into his bed, implying that he preys on widows or those in mourning. It does not matter about the words but purely the result and the "eulogy" could be for the death of their innocence.
• "Sweet riot of efflorescence" continues the metaphor of fruits and delicate flowers as "efflorescence" is the period when a flower is blooming and implies that the persona enjoys seeing these women unfold for him and finds great beauty and thrills in having sexual intercourse with so many different women. The speaker then goes on to hope that her name will stay "secret for her husband's sake", presenting the idea that he enjoys a challenge in going after married women but also that he would hate to be the man being cheated upon- it would drive him to anger. Despite this need for secrecy, the persona constantly boasts about their "vegetarian diet" of different sweet women. Their "peach of a woman" is their point of pride but this language is degrading and sexist, suggesting that they own the woman. Moreover, a "peach" is perishable, showing how the persona quickly discards women.
• The final stanza uses the sexual innuendo of "lick[ing] up juices" to display the persona's passion and that they can have whomever they want. However, there is still the need to keep their "busy tongue...quiet"- either to protect the women or himself from their scorn if they knew he was sleeping around. The self-assured tone still continues until the end and the persona cannot help but mention that they have "all" their teeth and a "busy tongue"-they are lecherous and objectify women. The use of "O" also highlights how little he cares for the feelings of the women.
• The structure of the poem is 'awkward' as each stanza has a different number of lines, increasing our discomfort as modern readers at seeing women used in that manner. The constant use of caesura and end-stopped lines emphasises the persona's desire to maintain control in their life and the range of vocabulary is meant to display superiority and intelligence.

Links to Larkin


Themes- 'Wild Oats'-"bosomy English rose"- women are objectified and desired only for their physical attractions. Larkin bases his opinion upon looks and also has a skewed version of love. He easily dismisses the relationship he had with the "friend in specs" and does not care for her feelings.
'As Bad as a Mile'- the story of Adam and Eve and the idea of corruption, human greed-the persona wants a challenge and as many women as he can have
'The Whitsun Weddings'- degrading view of women-"parodies of fashion", love and marriage linked to religion-"religious wounding" to be married and tied down as the speaker's women in Abse's poem seem tied to him
'Sunny Prestatyn'-women noticed only due to their bodies-"huge tits" links to Abse's description of a woman as "busty"
'For Sidney Bechet'-the ability of music and words to make a person feel like they are in love and to draw a person in


Tone- 'Self's the Man'- the tone in this poem is similar to Abse's speaker in that the persona is flippant and uses colloquial language such as "oh". They care only for what is best for them and are misogynistic-"she takes as her perk".
'The Whitsun Weddings' and 'Sunny Prestatyn'- vulgar and lecherous tone in relation to women-degrading- "mothers loud and fat"  , "fissured crotch"
'Naturally the Foundation will Bear Your Expenses'- use of "O" to show self-importance of the persona


Technique- 'Wild Oats'- euphemisms for sex- 'sowing your oats'- attempts to show their sexual prowess, metaphor of beautiful women as fragile flowers- "rose"
'An Arundel Tomb'-  alliteration -"side by side"- this is describing a restful and intimate state whilst the alliteration of "score and score" is harsh and demeaning.
'The Whitsun Weddings'- use of caesura to highlight how the persona desires to control the situation and looks down upon others.


Critical Link: http://www.enotes.com/topics/dannie-abse/critical-essays/abse-Dannie