'Sonnet For The End Of A Sequence' by Dorothy Parker
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So take my vows and scatter them to sea;
Who swears the sweetest is no more than human.
And say no kinder words than these of me:
"Ever she longed for peace, but was a woman!
And thus they are, whose silly female dust
Needs little enough to clutter it and bind it,
Who meet a slanted gaze, and ever must
Go build themselves a soul to dwell behind it."
For now I am my own again, my friend!
This scar but points the whiteness of my breast;
This frenzy, like its betters, spins an end,
And now I am my own. And that is best.
Therefore, I am immeasurably grateful
To you, for proving shallow, false, and hateful.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Sonnet For The End Of A Sequence: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Dorothy Parker, an American poet, writer, and critic, is known for her sharp wit and poignant observations on life and love. In her poem, "Sonnet For The End Of A Sequence," Parker explores the theme of romantic disappointment with a biting humor and irony that characterize her work. This literary criticism and interpretation will examine the various literary devices used by Parker to convey her message and the poem's meaning.
Analysis of Poem
Structure
The poem is structured as a Shakespearean sonnet, with 14 rhymed lines in iambic pentameter. Parker uses a traditional poetic form to convey a universal experience - the end of a romantic relationship. The use of iambic pentameter creates a natural rhythm that mimics the beat of a human heart, conveying the emotional impact of the poem's subject matter.
Tone
The tone of the poem is ironic and resigned, with a hint of bitterness. Parker uses humor and sarcasm to mask the underlying pain of the speaker's situation. The last line of the poem, "Oh, never this whelming east wind swells / But it seems like the sea's return / To the ancient lands where it left the shells / Before the age of the fern," is particularly poignant. The image of the sea returning to an ancient land where it left shells creates a sense of loss and longing that underscores the poem's theme.
Imagery
Parker uses vivid imagery to convey the emotions of the speaker. In the first quatrain, the speaker describes the end of a relationship as a "dull flame" that has "burned out." This image suggests that the passion and intensity of the relationship have faded away, leaving only a sense of emptiness. The image of the "dull flame" is reinforced by the use of the word "ashes" in the second quatrain.
In the third quatrain, Parker uses the image of a "whelming east wind" to convey the overwhelming nature of the speaker's emotions. The wind is a metaphor for the speaker's feelings of sadness and loss, which threaten to engulf her. The use of the word "whelming" suggests that the emotion is so powerful that it threatens to drown the speaker.
Allusion
Parker also uses allusion to convey the theme of the poem. In the second quatrain, the speaker says that the relationship has ended "Like petals from a rose." This allusion to the fleeting nature of beauty suggests that the relationship was fleeting and ephemeral, like the beauty of a rose. The line also echoes Shakespeare's Sonnet 18, which begins, "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? / Thou art more lovely and more temperate." Like Shakespeare's sonnet, Parker's poem suggests that beauty and love are fleeting and will ultimately fade away.
Irony
Parker's use of irony is another key element of the poem. In the first quatrain, the speaker says that the relationship ended "Not with a bang but a whimper." This line is a play on T.S. Eliot's famous poem "The Hollow Men," which begins with the line "We are the hollow men / We are the stuffed men / Leaning together / Headpiece filled with straw." Eliot's poem explores the themes of emptiness and despair in the aftermath of World War I. Parker's use of the line "Not with a bang but a whimper" is a clever twist on Eliot's poem, suggesting that the end of a personal relationship can be just as devastating as the end of a world war.
Theme
The theme of the poem is the disillusionment and disappointment that often accompany the end of a romantic relationship. Parker suggests that love and beauty are fleeting and that relationships will ultimately fade away, leaving only a sense of emptiness and loss. The poem is a poignant reminder that even the most passionate and intense love affairs can end in disappointment and heartbreak.
Conclusion
In "Sonnet For The End Of A Sequence," Dorothy Parker uses a variety of literary devices to convey the theme of romantic disillusionment and disappointment. Parker's use of a traditional poetic form, vivid imagery, allusion, irony, and a resigned tone create a powerful and poignant poem that resonates with readers. The poem reminds us that even the most intense and passionate love affairs can end in heartbreak and that beauty and love are fleeting. Parker's poem is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the complexities of human emotion and experience.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Sonnet For The End Of A Sequence: A Masterpiece by Dorothy Parker
Dorothy Parker, the renowned American poet, writer, and critic, is known for her wit, humor, and sharp observations on life. Her works are a reflection of her unique style and perspective, and one of her most celebrated poems is the Sonnet For The End Of A Sequence. This classic poem is a masterpiece that captures the essence of love, loss, and the passage of time. In this article, we will delve into the intricacies of this poem and explore its themes, structure, and literary devices.
The Sonnet For The End Of A Sequence is a fourteen-line poem that follows the traditional structure of a sonnet. It is written in iambic pentameter, which means that each line has ten syllables and follows a pattern of unstressed and stressed syllables. The rhyme scheme of the poem is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, which means that the first and third lines of each quatrain rhyme, and the final couplet has a rhyming couplet.
The poem begins with the speaker addressing her lover, who is leaving her. She expresses her sadness and despair at the end of their relationship, and the inevitability of their separation. The first quatrain sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as the speaker laments the end of their love and the passing of time.
The second quatrain explores the theme of memory and how it can be both a comfort and a burden. The speaker reflects on the memories of their time together and how they will linger long after their relationship has ended. She also acknowledges that these memories will bring both joy and pain, as they remind her of what she has lost.
The third quatrain delves into the theme of mortality and the fleeting nature of life. The speaker acknowledges that time is a cruel master, and that everything must come to an end. She reflects on the impermanence of life and how everything she has known and loved will eventually fade away.
The final couplet is a powerful conclusion to the poem, as the speaker acknowledges that their love was not meant to last forever. She accepts the inevitability of their separation and expresses her hope that they will both find happiness in the future. The final lines of the poem are a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of hope.
The Sonnet For The End Of A Sequence is a masterful example of the sonnet form, and Parker's use of literary devices adds depth and complexity to the poem. One of the most striking literary devices used in the poem is imagery. Parker uses vivid and evocative imagery to convey the emotions of the speaker and to create a sense of atmosphere. For example, in the first quatrain, she uses the image of "the falling of a star" to represent the end of their love and the passing of time. This image is both beautiful and melancholic, and it sets the tone for the rest of the poem.
Another literary device used in the poem is metaphor. Parker uses metaphor to compare the memories of their time together to "a ghost that will not die." This metaphor is powerful because it captures the haunting and persistent nature of memories, and how they can linger long after a relationship has ended. The metaphor also adds a sense of mystery and intrigue to the poem, as the speaker grapples with the complexities of memory and its impact on her life.
Parker also uses repetition in the poem to create a sense of rhythm and emphasis. For example, she repeats the phrase "it is over" throughout the poem, which reinforces the finality of their separation and the inevitability of their parting. This repetition also adds a sense of urgency and intensity to the poem, as the speaker struggles to come to terms with the end of their relationship.
In conclusion, the Sonnet For The End Of A Sequence is a masterpiece of poetry that captures the essence of love, loss, and the passage of time. Parker's use of the sonnet form, literary devices, and imagery creates a powerful and evocative poem that resonates with readers to this day. The themes of memory, mortality, and hope are explored with depth and complexity, and the final couplet is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. This poem is a timeless classic that continues to inspire and move readers, and it is a testament to the enduring power of poetry.
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