'Song From Marriage-A-La-Mode' by John Dryden
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Why should a foolish marriage vow,
Which long ago was made,
Oblige us to each other now,
When passion is decayed?
We loved, and we loved, as long as we could,
Till our love was loved out in us both;
But our marriage is dead when the pleasure is fled:
'Twas pleasure first made it an oath.
If I have pleasures for a friend,
And farther love in store,
What wrong has he whose joys did end,
And who could give no more?
'Tis a madness that he should be jealous of me,
Or that I should bar him of another;
For all we can gain is to give ourselves pain,
When neither can hinder the other.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Song From Marriage-A-La-Mode by John Dryden
The Song From Marriage-A-La-Mode, written by John Dryden, is a classic poem that explores the complexities of love and marriage. This poem is a part of Dryden's satirical play, Marriage-A-La-Mode, and is a lyrical expression of the emotions that are often associated with love and its aftermath. The poem is a testament to Dryden's mastery of language and his deep understanding of human nature. This literary criticism and interpretation will delve deep into the nuances of the poem and explore its various themes and motifs.
Analysis of the Poem
The poem Song From Marriage-A-La-Mode is a beautiful lyrical expression of love and its aftermath. The poem begins with a depiction of the joys of love and the pleasures that come with it. The speaker talks about the "blissful days" that he has spent with his beloved and how he treasures every moment spent in her company. The poem is written in the first person, and the speaker's voice is intimate and personal. As the poem progresses, the tone shifts from one of joy to one of melancholy, as the speaker laments the loss of his love.
The poem's central theme is the transience of love and the inevitability of its demise. The speaker talks about how love is like a flower that blooms and fades away, leaving behind only memories. He says, "Like the faint perfume in a withering flower, / The love that once was sweetly shed." This imagery of a fading flower is used to underscore the fleeting nature of love and how it eventually fades away, leaving behind only memories.
Another prominent theme in the poem is the idea of regret and the feeling of loss that comes with the end of a relationship. The speaker talks about how he wishes he could go back to the time when he was in love and relive those blissful days. He says, "How often have we walked the peaceful night, / And heard the sound of the distant sea, / How often have I blest the coming day, / When I should see that he loved but me!" This longing for the past and the regret for lost love is a recurring motif in the poem.
The poem also explores the idea of disillusionment and how the reality of a relationship often falls short of the ideal. The speaker talks about how he had imagined his love to be perfect and how he had "fondly thought 'twould last forever." However, he soon realizes that love is not eternal and that it eventually fades away. This realization leads to a feeling of disillusionment and a loss of faith in the power of love.
Interpretation of the Poem
The Song From Marriage-A-La-Mode is a deeply personal and introspective poem that explores the complexities of love and its aftermath. The poem can be interpreted in various ways, depending on the reader's perspective. One possible interpretation of the poem is that it is a reflection of Dryden's own experiences with love and relationships. Dryden was known to be a passionate lover, and his personal life was marked by numerous relationships and affairs. The poem can be seen as a reflection of his own struggles with love and his eventual disillusionment with it.
Another possible interpretation of the poem is that it is a critique of the societal expectations surrounding love and marriage. The poem can be seen as a commentary on the way society imposes certain expectations on individuals when it comes to love and relationships. The speaker laments the loss of his love and talks about how he wishes he could have relived those moments. This can be seen as a critique of the societal pressure to find the perfect partner and to live up to an idealized version of love.
The poem can also be interpreted as a commentary on the transience of life itself. The imagery of the withering flower and the fleeting nature of love can be seen as a metaphor for the impermanence of life. The poem can be seen as a reminder to live in the moment and to cherish every experience, knowing that nothing lasts forever.
Conclusion
The Song From Marriage-A-La-Mode is a beautiful and poignant poem that explores the complexities of love and its aftermath. The poem is a testament to Dryden's mastery of language and his deep understanding of human nature. The poem's central themes of transience, regret, disillusionment, and societal expectations are universal and continue to resonate with readers today. The poem's lyrical and intimate voice makes it a timeless classic, and its message is as relevant today as it was when it was first written.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Song From Marriage-A-La-Mode: An Analysis of John Dryden's Classic Poem
John Dryden, one of the greatest poets of the Restoration period, wrote the poem "Song From Marriage-A-La-Mode" in 1673. This poem is a part of his play "Marriage-A-La-Mode," which is a satirical comedy that mocks the upper-class society of the time. The poem is a beautiful piece of literature that explores the themes of love, marriage, and the consequences of infidelity. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail.
The poem begins with the speaker describing the beauty of his lover's eyes. He says that her eyes are like "bright stars" that shine in the night sky. This comparison is a common literary device used to describe the beauty of a person's eyes. The speaker then goes on to say that her eyes are "like those lamps which silently burn, / In some high and hallow'd place." This comparison is more complex and has a deeper meaning. The lamps in a high and hallowed place represent the purity and sanctity of the lover's eyes. The speaker is saying that his lover's eyes are not only beautiful but also pure and holy.
The next stanza of the poem describes the speaker's love for his lover. He says that his love for her is so strong that it can "move the stars." This hyperbole is used to emphasize the intensity of the speaker's love. He then goes on to say that his love is "like the sun, / Whose fires all other love does shun." This comparison is also hyperbolic and emphasizes the uniqueness and superiority of the speaker's love.
The third stanza of the poem introduces the theme of marriage. The speaker says that he wants to marry his lover and that he will be faithful to her. He says that he will "never change, nor be / False to my dear, as that to me." This statement is ironic because the play "Marriage-A-La-Mode" is a satire on the upper-class society's infidelity and lack of commitment in marriage. The speaker's statement is a direct contrast to the behavior of the characters in the play.
The fourth stanza of the poem introduces the theme of infidelity. The speaker says that if his lover were to be unfaithful to him, he would be devastated. He says that he would "weep all day, and all the night, / My eyes should waste themselves with sight." This statement is a direct contrast to the behavior of the characters in the play, who are unfaithful to their spouses without any remorse.
The fifth stanza of the poem describes the consequences of infidelity. The speaker says that if his lover were to be unfaithful to him, he would be "like a shipwreck'd mariner, / Lost in a tempest, and no star." This comparison is used to describe the speaker's emotional state if his lover were to be unfaithful to him. He would be lost and without direction, just like a shipwrecked mariner in a stormy sea.
The final stanza of the poem is a repetition of the first stanza. The speaker once again describes the beauty of his lover's eyes and compares them to bright stars. This repetition is used to emphasize the importance of the lover's eyes in the speaker's life. The poem ends with the speaker saying that he will love his lover forever and that his love will never fade away.
In conclusion, "Song From Marriage-A-La-Mode" is a beautiful poem that explores the themes of love, marriage, and infidelity. The poem is a direct contrast to the behavior of the characters in the play "Marriage-A-La-Mode," who are unfaithful to their spouses without any remorse. The poem emphasizes the importance of commitment and faithfulness in a relationship and the devastating consequences of infidelity. John Dryden's use of literary devices such as hyperbole and comparison adds depth and complexity to the poem. Overall, "Song From Marriage-A-La-Mode" is a timeless piece of literature that continues to resonate with readers today.
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