In this assessment I will be writing about how men show commitment towards women. Despite the differences in how commitment has been portrayed in the poems, there are many themes which link all the poems together, for example the theme of romantic love has been shown throughout the poems Cousin Kate and Valentine and has also been resembled in a circular object which is either a ring or an onion. This circular object could also resemble loop of infinity which could imply that love is infinite. Although the gifts maybe different they both represent commitment the only difference is the structures of the poems and how the author expresses their thoughts on how commitment should be shown. In Christina Rossetti’s poem “Cousin Kate”, there is a theme of commitment.
'It is very difficult to feel anything but disgust at Cathy's behaviour in chapters 9 and 10 of Wuthering Heights.' To what extent do you agree with this statement? (40 marks) Chapters 9 and 10 see Catherine Earnshaw confess her love for Heathcliff but ultimately agree to marry Edgar Linton for the betterment of her social status. Heathcliff is also transformed after three years, and it is obvious that both he and Catherine are still very much in love. Whether Catherine's behaviour in these chapters can be viewed as anything but disgusting is highly subjective, as 'disgust' is perhaps too harsh.
Her husbands, all five of them were teased with sex, but they had to provide luxuries that she desperately craved for. The underlying theme of The Wife of Bath relates to power struggles rather than spousal equality in marriage. The Wife of Bath gives an insight into a hard working semi-independent woman of the Middle Ages. She is semi- independent because she is dependent upon her husbands for material goods. "In the words of the Wife of Bath, God has given women three talents- deceit, weeping, and spinning" (Power 118).
Bronte describes in the novel how they seem themselves as one person, if one dies then the other can no longer belong. But, she does not show this in the conventional way of them simply falling in love. Two of the main emotions portrayed in the book are revenge and violence. This is how we see Heathcliff’s feelings towards Catherine, he does not merely say the words ‘I love you’. There relationship is much deeper than that, it could even be associated with that of a sibling’s relationship, but maybe with a twist.
Neither of the characters have a voice in the historical books however Duffy gives both the women their own voice in the poems. These poems are very much alike however very different. Duffy uses an oxymoron in the first line of Havisham. `Beloved sweetheart bastard` show that the character has mixed emotions about her lover and gives an air of uncertainty about the characters emotions for her lover. She calls him a bastard because he walked out on her however Duffy uses beloved sweetheart to symbolise her unconditional love for him.
The farmer’s bride In this poem the relationship portrayed is one of unrequited love. As he loves her but she doesn’t love him back and is a bit weary of him. The poet shows the relationship isn’t very good by using the title “The farmer’s bride” this makes her sound like his possession or a piece of cattle. One more way she is described as a piece of cattle or an animal in the poem is “we chased her, flying like a hare”. Another way the poet shows that the relationship isn’t a very loving one is that he says “’Not near, not near!’ her eyes beseech”, this means that she begs him to stay away from her so therefore the relationship can’t be that good.”I’ve hardly heard he speak at all “is another good indicator that it’s a one sided relationship as to even have a friendship you have to talk to the other person.
Hermia is in love with Lysander despite the Athenian rules. She cannot understand her own behavior since she has fallen in love and this is evident when she says to Theuses ‘I know not by what power I am made bold’ (act1 scene 1). This quote shows that Hermia does not usually act in this unpredictable way and that love is emotional rather than rational. Love is unpredictable and does not always make sense. This is shown through the conversation between Hermia and Lysander where Shakespeare uses repetition to compare different challenging situations where two people have fallen in love.
He did things most wouldn't find normal. It seems as though Blake had some things against him as a romantic writer. Blakes poetry tended to to have darker meanings than most romantic writers. While that still relates to the romantic theme, Wordsworths warmer poetry might've been the reason he is remembered as the Romantic Movement founder. Wordsworth would write about things related closer to love and with a more positive message.
• In this sonnet, Elizabeth Barrett Browning wishes for her lover, Robert Browning to love her genuinely and unconditionally, and not superficially. This is interpreted through the line “Do not say I love her for her smile ... her look ... her way Of speaking gently ... for a trick of thought That falls in well with mine ...” • She also does not want him to love her out of pity, for she is in physical as well as emotional pain. “Neither love me for Thine own dear pity wiping my tears dry!” • E.B.B’s intention in this specific poem is to express the way she wants Robert Browning to love her. This suggests that Robert Browning’s affection towards her is not strong enough, nor believable. The reason for his lack of affection may be because E.B.B is being too demanding and obstinate of her own perspectives of what love is and how she would like to be loved.
One of the most misunderstood emotions in life is love. There are so many different perspectives of love that it can be translated into something completely different from its original meaning. Harper Lee, the author of To Kill A Mockingbird, describes her book as “a plain and simple love story”. Obviously, this story is no romance novel, rather the love Lee is referring to is the one amongst family, friends, and enemies. Martin Luther King Jr. defines this love as agape, or “a disinterested love in which the individual seeks not his own good, but the good of his neighbor…it begins by loving others for their sakes…it’s a love seeking to preserve and create community” (King 19).