The poem “The Seduction” by Eileen McAuley centers on a young girl who is enticed by the allure of love and romance portrayed in teenage magazines. This influence leads her to engage in sexual activity with a boy she encounters at a party. Tragically, she discovers her pregnancy three months later, attributing both the events of that night and her current condition to the messages conveyed by these magazines. This revelation plunges her into a state of despair, as she yearns for anything other than being pregnant.
The poem implies that the boy’s aim is to intoxicate the girl, as shown by the line “He handed her the vodka.” This suggests he wants to impair her judgment and take advantage of her, knowing alcohol can influence decision-making and make her more susceptible to agreeing to things she wouldn’t normally. Additionally, in the next verse, the boy devalues the girl by referring to her as a “little slag.” This not only displays his disrespect towards her but also exposes his low opinion of her.
The poem discusses how the boy continues to purchase drinks for her, implying that he wants her to become intoxicated. This suggests that his intention is to get her drunk. Additionally, the boy mentions that he regularly goes to the river instead of attending school or having dinner. He carries a bag filled with paint thinner, which serves as a drug for him. This portrayal indicates that he rarely, or possibly never, attends school and relies on the paint thinner for recreational purposes.
I believe that the girl in the poem is a young teenager who takes pleasure in school and strives for success in her education. This can be deduced from the line ‘About O levels she’d be sitting in June,’ which indicates her dedication to academic pursuits. In addition, her mention of ‘numerous stories from teenage magazines’ suggests her engagement with glossy narratives that may exert an influence on her.
In the poem, the girl reveals that she is three months pregnant, indicating that the boy mentioned earlier is likely the father. Moreover, she deliberately breaks the heels of her high white shoes, which she may have worn on the night of conception. This act symbolizes her desire to distance herself from the boy and her pregnancy, emphasizing her discontent with the situation.
Feeling deceived, the girl becomes disillusioned with the tales portrayed in teenage magazines and feels tricked by their foolish and nonsensical narratives, which ultimately led to her becoming pregnant. The feeling of being cheated arises from the allure of these stories, making her believe she could have it all. She believes that her pregnancy will hinder her from experiencing life and cause her to miss out on everything, as evidenced by her question: “Where were the glossy photographs of summer day trips to Blackpool, jumping on all the rides?” This showcases her fear of being excluded from activities due to her pregnancy.
She then expresses her preference for other activities than being pregnant, stating “But, then again, better to be smoking scented drugs or festering, invisibly unemployed.” This conveys her emotional state, which resembles depression. She also depicts the feeling of being trapped in a feminine role, indicating that only women can experience pregnancy. Her discomfort with the attention she receives due to her pregnancy is evident from phrases such as “to walk through the town with a belly huge and ripe” and “you always looked the type.” These quotes further reinforce her perspective.
