'My Rival' by Robert Service

AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay


If she met him or he met her,
I knew that something must occur;
For they were just like flint and steel
To strike the spark of woe and weal;
Or like two splinters broken fine,
In perfect fitness to combine;
And so I ept them well apart,
For she was precious to my heart.
One time we all three met at church
I tried to give the lad the lurch,
But heard him say: "How like a rose!
is it your daughter , I suppose?"
"Why no," said I; "My wife to be,
And sic months gone wi' child is she."
He looked astonished and distraught:
My boy, that's one for you I thought.

The wife asked: "What a handsome lad!
A sailor . . ." Somehow she looked sad;
And then his memory grew dim,
For nevermore she mentioned him.
And as I be nigh twice her age
I've always thought it mighty sage,
Lest she might one day go astray,
To keep her in the breeding way.

Oh did she ever dream of Jack?
The boy who nevermore came back,
And never will, I heard that he
Was drowned in the China Sea.

I told her not, lest she be sad,
And me? It's mean, but I was glad;
For if he's come into my life
He would have robbed me of my wife.

But when at night by her I lie,
And in her sleep I hear her sigh,
I have a doubt if I did well
In separating Jack and Nell.
And though we have a brood of seven,
Yet marriage may be made in Heaven:
For Nell has cancer, Doctors state,
So maybe 'tis the way of fate
That in the end them two may mate.

Editor 1 Interpretation

My Rival by Robert Service: A Literary Criticism

Have you ever come across a poem that just grabs you and won't let go? That's how I feel about My Rival by Robert Service. This classic poem is a masterpiece of storytelling, with vivid imagery, powerful emotions, and a message that resonates even today.

Background

Before we dive into the analysis, let's first talk about the poet and the context in which he wrote this poem. Robert Service was a Scottish-Canadian writer who lived from 1874 to 1958. He is best known for his poetry, which often depicted the rugged, adventurous life of the Canadian West.

My Rival was first published in 1907 as part of Service's collection of poems called "Ballads of a Cheechako." The term "cheechako" referred to newcomers to the Yukon during the gold rush, and Service himself had spent time in the region as a bank clerk before becoming a full-time writer.

With this background in mind, let's now turn to the poem itself.

The Poem

My Rival tells the story of a man who is in love with a woman, but is jealous of his rival who seems to have won her heart. The poem is structured as a conversation between the protagonist and his rival, with the protagonist speaking in the first two stanzas and the rival responding in the final stanza.

Here is the poem in full:

If she met him or he met her,
I knew that something must occur;
For they were just like flint and steel,
And such a case must cause a deal
Of sparks, or else my name's not Jack,
And they would come to grips, alack!
And one would have to bite the dust,
Because they were so keen and just.

"You're but a clod," I said to him,
"And I'm a better man by far;
You take no lead in anything,
You're but a country bumpkin, sir.

"Now she's a princess, through and through,
With all her royal ways and air;
And do you think that she could do
With just a clod like you for fair?

"Why, man, she wants a mate of mind,
A fellow with a will and wit,
With pluck and push and power to grind,
And make the most of it."

But he just looked me in the eye,
And said: "Old man, you're off your nut;
I've got the thing that you've not got,
And mine will stick when yours will rot.

"She's not a princess, but a queen,
And I'm the chap to make her smile:
She wants a man, not boy or machine,
And that's what I am all the while.

"She wants a man who's strong and straight,
With courage in his every breath;
A man of honor, not of hate,
Who fights his fight and welcomes death."

And then he turned and walked away,
With head erect and shoulders square;
And as I watched him from the fray,
I knew my rival had me there.

Analysis

What makes My Rival such a powerful poem? Let's break it down stanza by stanza.

Stanzas 1-2: The Protagonist's Jealousy

The poem begins with the protagonist expressing his jealousy of his rival and his fear that they will fight over the woman they both love. He paints his rival as a mere "clod" compared to himself, who is a "better man by far." He also reveals his belief that the woman is too good for his rival, and that she needs a man with "pluck and push and power to grind."

This stanza sets up the conflict between the protagonist and his rival, and establishes the protagonist as an unreliable narrator. He is so consumed by jealousy that he can't see his rival's strengths, and instead sees him only as a threat.

Stanza 3: The Rival's Response

In stanza 3, the rival finally speaks up and challenges the protagonist's assumptions. He rejects the idea that the woman is a princess who needs a man of wit and will, and instead sees her as a queen who wants a man of strength and honor.

He turns the protagonist's argument on its head, claiming that he is the one with the qualities the woman seeks. He is strong, courageous, and honorable, and these are the qualities that will make him stand out in her eyes.

Stanza 4: The Rival's Triumph

The poem ends with the rival walking away, leaving the protagonist to contemplate his defeat. He realizes that his rival has outwitted him, and that the woman will likely choose him over the protagonist.

This final stanza is the climax of the poem, and it underscores the message that Service is trying to convey. The protagonist's jealousy and insecurity have blinded him to the fact that his rival has qualities that are just as valuable, if not more so, than his own. He has underestimated his rival and overestimated himself, and in doing so has lost the love of the woman he desires.

Interpretation

So what is the message of My Rival? At its heart, the poem is a cautionary tale about the dangers of jealousy and pride. The protagonist is so consumed by these emotions that he is unable to see his rival as anything other than a threat, and in doing so he sabotages his own chances at love.

But the poem is also about the nature of love itself. The protagonist sees the woman as a prize to be won, a symbol of his own worth and status. But the rival sees her as a person, someone who deserves to be loved for who she is, not for what she represents.

In this way, the rival embodies the qualities that the protagonist lacks. He is confident, but not arrogant. He is strong, but not aggressive. He sees the woman as a person, not an object.

Conclusion

My Rival is a masterpiece of storytelling that continues to resonate with readers today. Its message about jealousy and pride is timeless, and its exploration of the nature of love is both insightful and poignant.

Robert Service was a master poet who understood the power of language to evoke emotion and tell a story. My Rival is a testament to his skill, and to the enduring value of poetry as a means of expression and communication.

So if you haven't read My Rival yet, I urge you to do so. It's a poem that will stay with you long after you've finished reading it, and that's the mark of a true masterpiece.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

My Rival: A Poem of Love, Jealousy, and Betrayal

Robert Service's poem "My Rival" is a classic piece of literature that explores the complex emotions of love, jealousy, and betrayal. Written in the early 20th century, the poem tells the story of a man who is deeply in love with a woman, but who is also consumed by jealousy and suspicion of his rival. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in the poem to gain a deeper understanding of its meaning and significance.

The poem begins with the speaker expressing his love for the woman, describing her beauty and charm in vivid detail. He is clearly infatuated with her, and his admiration is evident in lines such as "Her eyes are stars of twilight fair; / Like twilight, too, her dusky hair." The speaker's love for the woman is pure and sincere, and he sees her as the embodiment of all that is good and beautiful in the world.

However, the speaker's love is soon overshadowed by his jealousy and suspicion of his rival. He describes his rival as a man who is "rich and young and debonair," and who seems to have everything that the speaker lacks. The speaker is consumed by envy and bitterness, and he cannot help but compare himself unfavorably to his rival. He sees his rival as a threat to his happiness and his relationship with the woman he loves.

The theme of jealousy is central to the poem, and it is explored in great detail throughout. The speaker's jealousy is all-consuming, and it drives him to do things that he knows are wrong. He admits that he has "stooped to hound him with disgrace," and that he has even tried to turn the woman against his rival by spreading rumors and lies. The speaker's jealousy is a destructive force that threatens to destroy not only his relationship with the woman, but also his own sense of self-worth and dignity.

The poem also explores the theme of betrayal, as the speaker realizes that his jealousy has caused him to betray the woman he loves. He admits that he has "stabbed her heart with poisoned blade," and that he has caused her pain and suffering. The speaker's betrayal is a tragic consequence of his jealousy, and it serves as a warning to others about the dangers of envy and suspicion.

The imagery used in the poem is rich and evocative, and it helps to convey the speaker's emotions and the themes of the poem. The use of metaphors and similes is particularly effective, as it allows the reader to visualize the speaker's feelings and experiences. For example, the comparison of the woman's eyes to "stars of twilight fair" creates a sense of wonder and awe, while the comparison of her hair to "twilight" creates a sense of mystery and enchantment.

The language used in the poem is also significant, as it reflects the speaker's emotions and state of mind. The use of strong, emotive words such as "hate," "envy," and "betrayal" creates a sense of intensity and urgency, while the use of softer, more romantic words such as "love," "beauty," and "charm" creates a sense of tenderness and vulnerability. The contrast between these two types of language highlights the speaker's inner conflict and the complexity of his emotions.

In conclusion, Robert Service's poem "My Rival" is a powerful exploration of the themes of love, jealousy, and betrayal. Through vivid imagery and emotive language, the poem conveys the speaker's intense emotions and the tragic consequences of his jealousy. The poem serves as a warning about the dangers of envy and suspicion, and it reminds us of the importance of trust, honesty, and self-reflection in our relationships with others.

Editor Recommended Sites

Mesh Ops: Operations for cloud mesh deploymentsin AWS and GCP
Rust Guide: Guide to the rust programming language
LLM Ops: Large language model operations in the cloud, how to guides on LLMs, llama, GPT-4, openai, bard, palm
Local Dev Community: Meetup alternative, local dev communities
GPT Prompt Masterclass: Masterclass on prompt engineering

Recommended Similar Analysis

He Had His Dream by Paul Laurence Dunbar analysis
One Art by Elizabeth Bishop analysis
This World is not Conclusion by Emily Dickinson analysis
I Dream'd In A Dream by Walt Whitman analysis
Holy Sonnet XIV: Batter My Heart, Three-Personed God by John Donne analysis
Why Should Not Old Men Be Mad? by William Butler Yeats analysis
Preludium to America by William Blake analysis
Divination By A Daffodil by Robert Herrick analysis
Fable by Ralph Waldo Emerson analysis
Courtship of Miles Standish, The by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow analysis