The poem explores the power of women’s voices, while also exposing the horrors of the modern world. Duffy uses the poem to respond to the sexist notion that women must be silent and quiet. Duffy suggests that ‘The News’, representing all the bad events of the world, angers the voice of the poem. The woman’s voice leaves her body, becoming louder and vaster every time she speaks. Duffy personifies and intensifies the voice, escaping and being heard across the world.

• The idea that a woman is ‘bossy’ if she speaks out has been a sexist idea for much of the modern era. Duffy presents a woman who rejects the stereotype of silence, as someone use their voice to advocate for change.
• Duffy uses an Epigraph: ‘Parents with mutilated children have been turned away from the empty hospital and told to hire smugglers …. (Afghanistan, 28 October 2001)’
• A reference to the women’s anger at the News, as people are annoyed with what they see in the News, but still choose to do nothing about it: ‘The News had often made her shout’
• A reference to her voice being celebrated, with fireworks associated with celebrations: ‘but one day her voice ripped out of her throat like a firework’
• A reference to the woman being surprised at the power and loudness of her voice: ‘terrible sulphurous crack that made her jump’
• A Light reference that symbolises a spark of hope in a broken and suffering world: ‘a flash of light in the dark’
• A reference to the world being politically corrupt, it could also be a reference to the Officegate scandal in 2001 in which Scottish First Minister Henry McLeish was accused of not refunding the House of Commons for income he had received: ‘the boos for the bent MP’
• A Reference to Greek mythology and hideous beasts which would terrorise people: ‘beak the sickening hiss of a thrown spear’
• A reference to King Kong, as women were seen as a threat, but powerful enough to fend for herself: ‘She hollered into the dark where fighter planes buzzed at her face’
• A reference to men in power being listened to no matter what: ‘the President’s cough’