Punishment

Seamus Heaney’s “Punishment” seeks to comment upon cultural and cyclical violence in the past and present. This poem is particular within the context of Heaney’s other “bog body” poems because it focuses specifically on violence perpetrated against women during times of cultural, social, or political strife. In “Punishment,” Heaney remarks upon the vengeful cruelty of cultural revenge and violence against women (See: Themes); his reference to a female bog body—thought at the time to have been killed as punishment for a sexual affair—speaks not only to ancient revenge and sexual violence, but also to modern examples of the policing of women’s bodies. In particular, the poem criticizes the IRA’s use of tarring and feathering as a revenge tactic against Northern Irish women who fraternized with British soldiers during the Troubles. However, Heaney’s focus on the policing of female sexuality in ancient and modern times remains largely topical in the poem. At its core, Heaney’s “Punishment” is preoccupied with the constancy of violence in the past and present (See: Themes) and his personal role as a liable participant in and voyeur of cultural violence for the sake of “art.