Gran & Jason.
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One of the overlying themes in ‘Pique At Parting’ is the flaws of men. There are various
references to this theme throughout the passage. The poem puts men in an irresponsible and
arrogant light. For instance, there is a sarcastic reference to men as ‘your noble selves’. If men are
all that ‘noble’ as the persona puts it, then they should not have left us ‘the baby to kiss; the fire on
the hearth (and the fires in the heart) to tend’. This is said in a sarcastic tone as in the poem, this is
accusing men of leaving women with the household chores, something not noble as it is seen as
stereotyping women to be housewives and nothing more. Another jab at the common man, is that
the persona claims sarcastically that ‘The world—they own it no doubt’. This is ironic as women
in actual fact, coexist with men, and that the world in itself belongs to no one. This is an attack on
the arrogance of men. The persona, soon after, says that ‘we, not eagles are doves?’ This is a
potent image painted by the persona, of how women are suppressed and have to ‘hide in the
leaves’ simple because they are not men. It is apparent that the persona is indignant at how women
are overshadowed by men, who ‘the world’ they ‘own’.