Expression Of The Meaning Of Love And Its Importance Essay Example
Love is a beautiful element that holds immense significance in someone's life, inspiring countless artists who have dedicated their creative expressions to praising it.
In order to explore the significance of love and its importance in the human mind, I will analyze three poems: "A Red, Red Rose," "Love Is Not All: It Is Not Meat nor Drink," and "Sonnet 116." Love is an abstract concept, so poets rely on concrete elements to convey its depth. Instead of using descriptive adjectives, it is more effective to use tangible objects that engage our senses. Take, for example, Robert Burns' "A Red, Red Rose." He employs similes to compare love to a vibrant red rose and a melodious tune. This allows us to perceive love's passionate nature through the color red, experience its fragility through the soft petals of a rose, and hear the har
...mony of satisfaction when two lovers unite. The speaker further emphasizes his commitment to love his dear through exaggerated statements, adding even more vividness to the portrayal of love.
The phrases "till all the seas run dry(8)" and "while the sands of life shall run(12)" both emphasize the extreme pledges that lovers can make. People express such romantic words to evoke a deep emotional response, allowing us to feel the passionate intensity of the speaker's love. The poem is filled with romantic language and exaggerated declarations, resembling the lyrics of popular songs today. However, to us readers, these exaggerations in "A Red, Red Rose" come across as cliches. The metaphors for love in Millay's "Love Is Not All: It Is Not Meat nor Drink" are more captivating and innovative.
The poem begins with a series of
negations, rejecting various notions of what love is and providing a fresh perspective on its meaning. However, the poet later suggests the possibility of selling or trading love for peace or material goods, albeit in an understated manner. Despite this, the poet affirms that love holds a higher status than anything else and suggests that it encompasses everything in his life, as seen in his earlier refutations.
When comparing the poems "Sonnet 43" and "Sonnet 116," it is evident that the poets employ similar techniques. However, Shakespeare's poem surpasses Millay's due to the inclusion of narrative opinions on love. In both poems, the poets deny certain aspects of love to highlight and affirm its importance in their lives. Through metaphors and negations, they establish a solid foundation for understanding love in terms of both material and spiritual aspects. Shakespeare reinforces this idea by stating that love endures hardships, such as tempests, without wavering. He also emphasizes that love's true value remains unknown, regardless of any measurements taken. In contrast, Millay's poem lacks these narrative opinions, making Shakespeare's poem more impactful.
"Sonnet 116" delves into the essence of love, bringing forth the personification of love itself. This personification breathes life into love, making it a companion that can be befriended. In this sonnet, love is portrayed not only as a fleeting friend but also as a loyal and everlasting comrade that will never betray us.
In Shakespeare's typical romantic writing style, love is depicted with its spiritual significance. Millay's poem, when compared to "Sonnet 116," portrays love as having a more tangible advantage. Similarly, in Robert's poem, love is likened to a fresh green apple, symbolizing the desires of
new lovers. It can be inferred that all three poems celebrate the positive aspects of love while overlooking its negative aspects such as pain, sorrow, and hurt.
Perhaps they only exist nowadays in popular love songs of lamentation. However, poems are inherently more exquisite than song lyrics, allowing for a greater creation of expectation and belief in love through art. By examining these three poems, we can uncover progressively deeper descriptions from Robert's poem to Millay's and ultimately to Shakespeare's. In "A Red, Red Rose," the sentences resemble expressions we would convey to our beloveds, making commitments of eternal love that we would not deem unattainable.
We are simply expressing our deep passion and focusing only on our loved ones. Natural wonders such as roses, seas, and rocks are the best things to compare to. In "Sonnet 116," love is also compared to the North Star. These wonders are incredibly beautiful and powerful, indicating that our love will not easily fade. After making heartfelt vows, we begin contemplating the tangible aspects of love. In "Love Is Not All: It Is Not Meat nor Drink," the poet attempts to analyze love from a physical perspective.
She plays the role of a physician or doctor, assessing the efficacy of love. So, what is love capable of achieving? It cannot provide aid or resolve any problems, appearing entirely pointless. However, love surpasses these limitations. I recall someone once stating, "Time cannot mend wounds, only love can." There are certain spiritual wounds that doctors cannot address and certain secure and comforting spaces that architects cannot construct. Yet, love can fulfill these tasks for us.
After understanding the capabilities of love, it is important
to contemplate its true nature. In "Sonnet 116," the poet emphasizes that love is timeless and unwavering, incapable of being changed or taken away. Love serves as a guiding beacon for those who are spiritually lost, acting as the brightest star that illuminates our path in times of darkness.
No matter how you look at it, love has the power to surpass time. When you find yourself in a spiritual turmoil, love can be your anchor. It is impossible to quantify the value of love because it is priceless. Personally, I am particularly fond of the line, "Love is the star to every wande'ring bark, whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken" (7-8). Love holds different meanings for each individual and can be conveyed in countless ways.
Throughout the centuries, love has always been a beautiful topic that captivates artists. Through reading poems, we not only witness the poetic skills used to depict love, but also gain insight into how poets perceive and approach this timeless theme. Love, it seems, remains eternal despite the passage of time and the changes in the world around us.
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