First Love by John Clare. Part 3 Final.
Stanza 3.
Clare begins this stanza with a number of rhetorical devices. The use of nature in "flowers" and "winter" seem to be questioning free will in human terms. Does it really exist? Interpreted in a more natural way, is it winter's choice to want flowers growing? Another paradox. If the weather is cold, flowers will not grow and many will die. Our association of rebirth and renewal of life is in spring.
In line 2 he uses the image of "love's bed" referring to the consummation perhaps of a relationship in the marital bed. Is this where love is expressed? How is it linked to the previous line when we might refer to a "bed" of flowers, a number of flowers covering a particular space in the garden or park perhaps? Does this mean that like the bed of flowers love is made up of a number of individual but perhaps very different feelings?
The "love's bed" is "always snow." Notice the stress on always and what snow could symbolise. If we wanted to be positive it would be virginal because of the colour. If we compare it to ice then it is cold and unfeeling, the opposite of how love is usually depicted. I think Clare is being negative here. He is pitiful, perhaps looking for sympathy?
In line 3 Clare's voice is "silent." Once more he uses another paradox because his "lover" Mary Joyce "seemed to hear" his voice even though he did not speak. Intuition allows us to understand unspoken thoughts. Mary probably understands how he feels. He doesn't really know if she is aware of his intense feelings. He just thinks that he knows, if that makes sense!
In line 4 he uses negation again in "Not loves appeals..." If he was appealing to her for reciprocated feelings this did not happen. Unrequited love?
In line 5 further use of negation and alliteration is used to stress "never" and "saw so sweet."
In the last two lines the tone is melancholic and maudlin. He has lost his heart (metaphorically) never to return. An awesome thought to conclude.
Touching on themes: relationships, description of nature, strong memories and love.
Courtesy of Poets' Graves Website.
Clare begins this stanza with a number of rhetorical devices. The use of nature in "flowers" and "winter" seem to be questioning free will in human terms. Does it really exist? Interpreted in a more natural way, is it winter's choice to want flowers growing? Another paradox. If the weather is cold, flowers will not grow and many will die. Our association of rebirth and renewal of life is in spring.
In line 2 he uses the image of "love's bed" referring to the consummation perhaps of a relationship in the marital bed. Is this where love is expressed? How is it linked to the previous line when we might refer to a "bed" of flowers, a number of flowers covering a particular space in the garden or park perhaps? Does this mean that like the bed of flowers love is made up of a number of individual but perhaps very different feelings?
The "love's bed" is "always snow." Notice the stress on always and what snow could symbolise. If we wanted to be positive it would be virginal because of the colour. If we compare it to ice then it is cold and unfeeling, the opposite of how love is usually depicted. I think Clare is being negative here. He is pitiful, perhaps looking for sympathy?
In line 3 Clare's voice is "silent." Once more he uses another paradox because his "lover" Mary Joyce "seemed to hear" his voice even though he did not speak. Intuition allows us to understand unspoken thoughts. Mary probably understands how he feels. He doesn't really know if she is aware of his intense feelings. He just thinks that he knows, if that makes sense!
In line 4 he uses negation again in "Not loves appeals..." If he was appealing to her for reciprocated feelings this did not happen. Unrequited love?
In the last two lines the tone is melancholic and maudlin. He has lost his heart (metaphorically) never to return. An awesome thought to conclude.
Touching on themes: relationships, description of nature, strong memories and love.
Are flowers the winters choice
Is love's bed always snow
She seemed to hear my silent voice
Not loves appeals to know
I never saw so sweet a face
As that I stood before
My heart has left its dwelling place
And can return no more-
First Love by Yeats.
Though nurtured like the sailing moon
In beauty's murderous brood,
She walked awhile and blushed awhile
And on my pathway stood
Until I thought her body bore
A heart of flesh and blood.
But since I laid a hand thereon
And found a heart of stone
I have attempted many things
And not a thing is done,
For every hand is lunatic
That travels on the moon.
She smiled and that transfigured me
And left me but a lout,
Maundering here, and with maundering there,
Emptier of thought
Than the heavenly circuit of its stars
When the moon sails out.
And left me but a lout,
Maundering here, and with maundering there,
Emptier of thought
Than the heavenly circuit of its stars
When the moon sails out.
COPYRIGHT 2013. Permission must be obtained from the author before any of this review is reproduced.
Comments
Post a Comment