4. Compare/contrast the two versions of "True Love". You can go a number of places with this question, but you should focus on the effect that each poem produces given its use of diction, tone, general structure, imagery, and the like.
"True Love" written by Wislawa Szymborska is a sarcastic poem that focuses on couples who show their love in front of others that simply do not want to see it. She is mocking the people that become mad and outraged at anyone who claims to be in love. There are moments where any human being can look at someone else and become annoyed with the public acts that appear to be to intimate for the public's eyes. Szymborska takes every statement to the extreme. Instead of a small outrage over the tiniest public display of affection, she makes the nonbelievers of true love say quotes such as "It couldn't populate the planet in a million years". The whole poem she is making people feel that there may be really something these people in love are hiding from the world until she reaches the end of the poem. Szymborska then throws it back in their faces that "Their faith will make it easier for them to live and die" if they continue to tell themselves that true love is nonexistent.
"True Love" written by Sharon Old is the most sincere of the two poems. They both use metaphors or similes of some kind to compare what the love is doing to people. This poem by Old is full of romantic passion and the realness of love that can be between two individuals. There is a "complete friendship" that is integrated into the relationship that makes it the strongest it can become. While Szymborska pokes fun at the people that scowl at the thought of love, Old shows the two people that are actually in love and the uniqueness of the connection that is made. Both "True Love" poems can make the reader rethink their whole opinion on the possibility of love, and turn them into believers of positive thinking leading to a true love of their own.
5. Compare “To His Importunate Mistress” to Andrew Marvell’s famed “To His Coy Mistress”. What kind of statement do you think De Vries is making about Marvell’s classic?
In the classic "To His Coy Mistress" the narrator appears to be telling this young lady that the time will fly by and they need to live for the moment. Since the woman is said to be coy, you can imagine that she is a modest woman that is not exactly giving Marvell what he actually wants. He is using the excuse of them needing to take advantage of all the moments given to them to perhaps fulfill his own personal needs. He is giving the young woman praises, but he makes himself appear quite desperately impatient. The narrator, which is in first person, makes it seem like the words coming from him to the "coy mistress" are out of true love, but they may be for his own desirous reasons.
In De Vries poem "To His Importunate Mistress", he touches some of the same ground, but with his own twist of the story. De Vries makes it seem that if he does indeed get the girl, then she will become his demanding mistress. He will pay for everything and make sure it is the best, and this will lead to him being in debt for the love of his mistress. This version of the poem makes it all about the fact that love can be all about money and how fast it disappears. De Vries wants Marvell to know that love is not what everyone thinks it can be. There are occasional disadvantages to finally getting what you want.
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Gina, I found your analysis of the True Love poems interesting. I don't know that either made a 'true believer' out of me, but from the wording you used, it almost makes me think they were so affecting on you. I honestly can see love from both perspectives, but still do not agree with either writer's opinion about it. You comment about positive thinking leading to the possibility of true love was very heartening to me. I am all about the positive aspects of life, and using the positive energy to grow and become more of the person I am. I appreciate your breakdown of these writings. Its great to see it from another angle.
ReplyDeleteRachel
Hey Gina, Your writngs on these two aspects of love are very interesting. the first one youe must remeber was written at a time when writing poetry and sonnets about your love of another, was how you began courtships. But you are right it was written more for fulfilling his other wants. Although we need to ask ourselves who isnt trying to get more out of a relationship? isn't that why we are in it?
ReplyDeleteyour second poem I think is more literal. while he does touch on some of the same subject matter, it seems to read more about if he was to take on a mistress. Stating that he would have two women to pay for, have to take a second job to afford all of the hotel rooms and gifts, only to lose her to somone with more money and time. I really enjoyed reading your post and look foreward to seeing more written by you. you did an excellent job, keep up the good work.
Gina, I enjoyed reading your post. I like the way you decribe your take on the poem.
ReplyDeleteHello Gina!
ReplyDeleteThis is Jillian. How are you doing? I hope that your weekend has been great. :-) Anyway, down to business...
I am going to comment on question number 5:
I really enjoyed your take on the two poems by De Vries and Marvell. I also gained a better understanding from these two poems after reading your posting. When I read Andrew Marvell's, "To His Coy Mistress," I was taken aback by the very praises that he was giving his mistress. For example: "My vegetable love should grow vaster than the empires, and more slow; Thine eyes and on they forehead gaze, two hundred to adore each breast, But thirty thousand to the rest: And age at least to every part, and the last age should show your heart. For, lady, you deserve this state, Nor would I love you at lower rate" (Schilb and Clifford, 659). This really does show how the narrator of the poem (as you stated) is using these praises to get what he wants from his mistress. He wants this woman badly, and he is hoping to win her with his sweet words.
However, in De Vries poem, "To His Importunate Mistress," I understood immediately that mockery that was going on in in this poem. The main point that De Vries was trying to make about Marvell's poem was that he needs to be careful about what he wishes for because women could be costly! I found that part of his poem quite humorous - parts where he mentioned how woman drained men's bank accounts. For example, here is an excerpt from the poem regarding the expenses of women: "Since mistress presupposes wife, It means a doubly costly life; For fools by second passion fired, A second income is required" (Schilb and Clifford 661). De Vries mocked Marvell because even though Marvell loved beautiful women and wanted them, he was not thinking logically. Once he was married to a woman, it would not be all rainbows and king's feasts. The husband would give in to the wife's demands, and it would almost always cost him.
Good job on analyzing these poems, Gina and have a good week!
God Bless!
Sincerely,
Jillian