# Ova Has Governesses explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Mina Loy.

## What happens

Ova's childhood is depicted as a bleak, oppressive experience under the care of governesses and nurses who lack vitality and humor. She is trapped in a gray, sooty London environment, longing for a more colorful and musical world.

## Themes in this chapter

### Childhood and Innocence

Ova's childhood is portrayed as joyless and deprived of the playful vitality typical of happy nurseries.

### Alienation and Belonging

Ova is alienated from her environment and caretakers, longing for a more vibrant and meaningful world.

## Character check-ins

### Ova

Ova suffers from the anaemia of monotonous hours and the oppressive care of her governesses.

### Ada

Ada is mentioned as Ova's mother, whose vagaries affect Ova's life.

### Nurse

The nurses are described as pinch-faced conservatives who let life alone.

## Key lines

> For her the irredeemable anaemia of hour upon hour devoid of invitation to vitality drifts through her arteries

Ova experiences a profound lack of energy and excitement in her daily life.

_Highlights the oppressive monotony of Ova's existence._

> The ghoulish clouds hide God who should have made the world a musical⁠—box of coloured glass growing like gilly⁠—flowers and Phlox

Ova imagines a divine creator who should have made the world beautiful and musical, but instead it is hidden and dreary.

_Reflects Ova's yearning for a more enchanting reality._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_17_se/chapters/ova-has-governesses
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_17_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_17_se/chapters