Perspectives

“Mr and Mrs Xenophobia” by John Agard is a piece of contemporary poetry which explores issues relevant for the modern society we live in. To gain a better insight into the poem’s themes and the author’s style, we will provide you with a few ideas related to the context, literary period and similar works.

Current issues

Though ten years have passed since the poem was original published (2006), the issues it deals with are still relevant today. In 2016, the British have voted to exit the European Union largely because of strong anti-immigration feelings. Furthermore, just like Dr Abdullah from the poem, an important part of the medical staff in the UK is recruited from abroad. This leads to a paradoxical situation that the poem also describes. On the one hand, the British would like to have as less contact with foreigners as possible. On the other hand, t...