'One Perfect Rose' by Dorothy Parker
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Enough Rope1926A single flow'r he sent me, since we met.
All tenderly his messenger he chose;
Deep-hearted, pure, with scented dew still wet -
One perfect rose.I knew the language of the floweret;
'My fragile leaves,' it said, 'his heart enclose.'
Love long has taken for his amulet
One perfect rose.Why is it no one ever sent me yet
One perfect limousine, do you suppose?
Ah no, it's always just my luck to get
One perfect rose.
Editor 1 Interpretation
"One Perfect Rose" by Dorothy Parker: A Critique of Love and its Folly
As I sit here contemplating the beauty of "One Perfect Rose," I am struck by its ominous undertones, its witty play on language, and its sharp commentary on the romantic notions of love. Dorothy Parker, the famed American writer, captured the hearts of many with her sharp wit and poignant writing style, and "One Perfect Rose" is no exception. In this essay, I will explore the themes of love, disillusionment, and the foolishness of romanticized love as portrayed in Parker's poem.
The Illusion of Love
The poem begins with a powerful image of a single rose, a symbol of romantic love, being gifted to the speaker. The opening lines, "A single flow’r he sent me, since we met. / All tenderly his messenger he chose;" reveal the care and thought put into this gift, suggestive of the intimacy between the sender and the receiver. The words "tenderly" and "his messenger he chose" imply that the sender intends to convey a message of love and affection through this rose. However, as the poem progresses, it becomes clear that this gift is not as grand or meaningful as the speaker initially believed it to be.
The second stanza is a play on the trope of love being represented by roses. Parker cleverly takes this idea and subverts it, suggesting that perhaps the gift-giver is not as romantic as the speaker initially thought. The lines, "Why is it no one ever sent me yet / One perfect limousine, do you suppose?" reveal the speaker's disillusionment with the gift, and the absurdity of the idea that a rose could ever be considered "perfect." This disillusionment is further emphasized in the third stanza, where the speaker asserts that "the thin stem" of the rose suggests that the gift-giver is "cheap" and "does not care." This statement is a departure from the initial romanticized notions of love and suggests that perhaps the speaker is more pragmatic than she initially lets on.
The Foolishness of Romanticized Love
The fourth stanza of the poem reveals the speaker's disillusionment with the idea of romantic love altogether. She asserts that "a briar grows instead of a rose" and that "nothing is what it seems." This statement suggests that perhaps the speaker has come to the realization that the idea of romantic love is an illusion, and that reality is often much harsher than the idealized notion of love that is perpetuated in society.
The final lines of the poem are perhaps the most revealing. The speaker proclaims that she would rather have "a witty and a pretty and a lovely" man, rather than a rose. This statement suggests that the speaker has come to the realization that love is not about grand gestures or romanticized Hollywood-style notions of love, but rather it is about finding someone who is witty, kind, and lovely. This is a departure from the initial trope of love being about grand gestures, roses, and limousines.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "One Perfect Rose" by Dorothy Parker is a poignant commentary on the illusions of romantic love. The speaker's disillusionment with the gift of a rose suggests that perhaps the idea of romantic love is an illusion, and reality is often much harsher than the idealized notion of love that is perpetuated in society. The poem subverts the trope of love being represented by roses, suggesting that perhaps the gift-giver is not as romantic as the speaker initially believed. Ultimately, the speaker asserts that love is not about grand gestures or romanticized Hollywood-style notions of love, but rather it is about finding someone who is witty, kind, and lovely. This poem is a testament to Parker's wit and her ability to subvert the romanticized notions of love that are perpetuated in society.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry is a form of art that has the power to evoke emotions and transport us to different worlds. One such poem that has stood the test of time is "One Perfect Rose" by Dorothy Parker. This poem is a classic example of Parker's wit and humor, and it has been analyzed and appreciated by literary enthusiasts for decades. In this article, we will delve deeper into the poem and explore its themes, structure, and literary devices.
Firstly, let us take a look at the structure of the poem. "One Perfect Rose" is a three-stanza poem, with each stanza consisting of four lines. The rhyme scheme is AABB, which means that the first and second lines rhyme with each other, and the third and fourth lines rhyme with each other. This rhyme scheme gives the poem a sing-song quality, which is in contrast to the serious tone of the poem. The poem is written in iambic tetrameter, which means that each line has four iambs, or metrical feet, with each foot consisting of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable. This gives the poem a rhythmic quality, and it adds to the overall musicality of the poem.
Now, let us move on to the themes of the poem. "One Perfect Rose" is a poem about love and the expectations that come with it. The speaker of the poem is a woman who has received a gift of a single rose from her lover. However, the rose is not just any rose - it is a "perfect" rose, which implies that the lover has gone to great lengths to find the best possible rose for his beloved. The woman, however, is not impressed by the rose, and she sees it as a symbol of the superficiality of her lover's love. She says, "Why is it no one ever sent me yet / One perfect limousine, do you suppose?" This line is a sarcastic comment on the materialistic nature of love, and it shows the speaker's disillusionment with the idea of love as a grand gesture.
The second stanza of the poem continues with the theme of disillusionment. The speaker says, "Not that I shall die tomorrow / That's not it; but I'd like to be a little less careful / Of books and such, and floor." This stanza shows the speaker's desire to let go of her inhibitions and live a little. She is tired of being careful and cautious, and she wants to experience life to the fullest. This stanza also shows the speaker's frustration with the limitations that society places on women. She is expected to be prim and proper, and she longs for the freedom to be herself.
The final stanza of the poem is a reflection on the nature of love. The speaker says, "It's not the note I send you, dear, / Nor the love you give me, dear, that I fear, / It's the paltry rose you bought me, / Cheap and chaste and coldly caught me." This stanza shows the speaker's realization that love cannot be bought or sold. It is not the grand gestures or the expensive gifts that matter, but the love that is given freely and without expectation. The rose, which was meant to be a symbol of love, has become a symbol of the speaker's disappointment and disillusionment.
Now, let us move on to the literary devices used in the poem. One of the most prominent literary devices used in "One Perfect Rose" is irony. The speaker's sarcastic comments on the materialistic nature of love are a prime example of irony. The fact that the rose, which was meant to be a symbol of love, has become a symbol of disappointment and disillusionment is also ironic. Another literary device used in the poem is imagery. The image of the "perfect" rose is used to symbolize the superficiality of the lover's love. The image of the limousine is used to contrast the materialistic nature of love with the speaker's desire for freedom and authenticity. The image of the books and the floor is used to symbolize the limitations that society places on women.
In conclusion, "One Perfect Rose" is a poem that explores the themes of love, disillusionment, and societal expectations. The poem is written in a sing-song style, which contrasts with the serious tone of the poem. The use of irony and imagery adds depth and complexity to the poem, and it makes it a timeless classic. Dorothy Parker's wit and humor shine through in this poem, and it is a testament to her talent as a poet. "One Perfect Rose" is a poem that will continue to be analyzed and appreciated for generations to come.
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