My Love Is Like to Ice Essay Example
My Love Is Like to Ice Essay Example

My Love Is Like to Ice Essay Example

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  • Pages: 4 (1024 words)
  • Published: May 12, 2018
  • Type: Essay
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Edmund Spencer's poem "My Love Is Like to Ice" from his literary work "Amoretti" portrays the message that love may sometimes seem unattainable, but one cannot truly know this unless they make an attempt. This poem is a part of Spencer's courtship of his second wife Elizabeth Boyle, and can be seen as his struggle for love. Understanding the intent of the poet when writing such beautiful poetry gives us an advantage when analyzing it. Spencer incorporates two interesting elements to express his feelings and emotions about love, emphasizing that it is mutual and should not be abandoned.

Throughout the poem, symbolism is frequently used to convey human emotions and feelings. The poem is divided into four sections, each posing a question and exploring various states of love. The first section establishes its own tone and mood with

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the line, "My love is like to ice, and I to fire." By choosing two elements that are incompatible and opposite, Spenser highlights the sense of impossibility and hopelessness in love.

The author exemplifies his love in a different form, attributing it with its own distinct personality. This allows him to easily relate to and explain his feelings to others. He employs a metaphor to convey his negative sentiments towards love. By giving himself the qualities of fire and associating love with ice, he questions the nature of his emotional attachment. There is a conflict between fire and ice, as fire melts ice while ice diminishes fire. Hence, he wonders why the person he has affection for is so cold. Coldness suggests a lack of emotion, impassivity, and an inability to express oneself. However, upon further reflection, this coldnes

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symbolizes her unresponsive love towards the poet's passionate fire.

The poet compares ice to his desire and fire to the woman he loves. He acknowledges that ice is known for its strength and firmness, but when fire is applied to it, it melts into water. Similarly, his burning desire for the woman does not weaken his love, which remains sturdy and unyielding. However, the poet wonders if his continued efforts only make the woman more indifferent and unreceptive to his feelings. This sense of hopelessness grows stronger as he entreats her further.

The meaning of how fire can make her ice harder is explained in the poem's metaphorical interpretation, which is explored in more depth in the essay. The poet continues to develop the concept of pointlessness, not fully comprehending his situation and the detrimental impact his love for this medium has on his actions. In the second section, the poet establishes a tone of perseverance. Spenser chooses ice as a symbol not only for its typical qualities, but also because it can take on various forms like water and steam, much like love.

When fire and ice coexist, the ice does not instantly dissolve. The passage of time is integral to this process, much like the nature of love. Additionally, even if the ice does melt, there remains water, and eventually, it may transform into steam. However, without the presence of fire or heat, water cannot undergo this transformation. In a metaphorical sense, love requires time, perseverance, and determination. It appears that the poet has not fully comprehended this idea at the current moment in the poem. Nonetheless, I am consumed by intense perspiration and exertion.

Sweat signifies both physical labor and moisture.

In other words, he is experiencing anxiety and impatience, sweating due to his love and the heat from the person he adores. He is unsure why his love is going through these emotions. His love is transforming, similar to how ice turns into liquid when it melts. And I feel my passion increasing greatly? The poet is still somewhat confused, as seen in his questioning at the end of each section. His thoughts about love and the person he adores bring about uncertainty, but he senses a change within himself, a fiery transformation.

The Third section exhibits a complete change in mood and tone. The poet's determination is now visibly evident. What can be more wondrous than the fact that fire, which melts everything, has the ability to harden ice? This conveys a sense of awe and astonishment, as something unexpected. Due to the previous two sections, the poem conveyed a sense of sadness and hopelessness. Spenser's metaphor of ice and fire is highly intricate, encompassing both figurative and literal interpretations throughout the poem. Ice represents love, while fire symbolizes the poet himself.

The poet suggests that fire hardened the ice, which may seem impossible. Fire typically melts ice rather than making it harder. However, when viewed metaphorically, this could be understood differently. The poet's own passion and desire generated the heat that strengthened and solidified the love between him and his beloved. Through his own struggle for love, Spenser teaches us that love requires patience and perseverance, just like hardened ice would need fire to become.

This quote from the poem partly conveys the idea of love being mutual. The

poet claims that the ice ignited the fire, symbolizing the spark of love between two individuals with distinct qualities: ice representing coldness and fire representing passion. According to this line, fire melts ice, but through a marvelous process, the ice also fuels the fire in return, creating a mutual exchange. Spenser demonstrates that love has the power to overcome any difficult circumstances. Love has such a profound impact on a gentle mind that it can alter the natural course of things.

In this poem, the poet employs two opposing elements, ice and fire, which are incompatible. However, he manages to portray them coexisting, emphasizing that love defies impossibility. While the laws of nature hold significant power, love surpasses them. Through the metaphor of ice and fire, the poet depicts their relationship as unfeasible. Nevertheless, he demonstrates that labeling love as impractical is fundamentally illogical. The notion of impossible love does not exist. The poet daringly strives for what appeared to be an unattainable feat and consequently pushes boundaries. His audacity extends to violating the laws of nature by solidifying ice through the use of fire.

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