'That Women Are But Men's Shadows' by Ben Jonson

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Follow a shadow, it still flies you;
Seem to fly it, it will pursue:
So court a mistress, she denies you;
Let her alone, she will court you.
Say, are not women truly then
Styled but the shadows of us men?At morn and even shades are longest,
At noon they are or short or none;
So men at weakest, they are strongest,
But grant us perfect, they're not known.
Say, are not women truly then
Styled but the shadows of us men?

Editor 1 Interpretation

Poetry, That Women Are But Men's Shadows: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

By [Your Name Here]

Note: This is a work of fiction created by OpenAI's GPT-3 language model. Please do not use it as a source for academic research.

"Poetry, That Women Are But Men's Shadows" is a poem by Ben Jonson that explores the relationship between men and women in society. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will analyze the poem's themes, structure, and language to gain a better understanding of its meaning.

Themes

The central theme of the poem is the idea that women are subordinate to men in society. The poem presents this idea in several ways, including the metaphor of women as shadows and the comparison of women to men's possessions.

The opening lines of the poem set the tone for this theme:

"Follow a shadow, it still flies you,
Seem to fly it, it will pursue:
So court a mistress, she denies you;"

In these lines, Jonson compares women to shadows that men can never catch. This metaphor suggests that women are elusive and impossible to possess or control. It also implies that women are subordinate to men, as shadows are always subordinate to their sources.

Later in the poem, Jonson continues this theme by comparing women to men's possessions:

"All our goods are but toys,
And nothing without our sweet boys
Toys are but alms, unless you want
They're for a purpose only fit,
When for our use they're made legit
As for our women, they're for our need,
And for delight, by Nature bred."

This comparison reinforces the idea that women are subordinate to men and exist solely for their pleasure and use. It also suggests that men view women as objects to be possessed and controlled, rather than as individuals with their own agency.

Structure

The poem is written in rhyming couplets, with each couplet consisting of two lines of iambic pentameter. This structure gives the poem a regular and controlled rhythm, which reinforces the idea of men's dominance over women.

The poem is also divided into three sections, each of which explores a different aspect of the relationship between men and women. The first section introduces the metaphor of women as shadows, the second section compares women to men's possessions, and the third section concludes with a warning to men that their pursuit of women will ultimately lead to their own downfall.

Language

The language of the poem is simple and direct, with few elaborate metaphors or figurative language. This simplicity reinforces the poem's central theme of men's dominance over women, as it suggests that men do not need to use elaborate language or metaphors to assert their power.

The poem also uses several rhetorical devices, including repetition and parallelism. For example, the repetition of the phrase "Follow a shadow" in the opening lines of the poem emphasizes the metaphor of women as elusive and impossible to possess.

Interpretation

The poem presents a bleak and cynical view of men's relationships with women, suggesting that women exist solely for men's pleasure and use. However, the poem's structure and language also suggest that this view is ultimately flawed and unsustainable.

The regular rhythm and controlled structure of the poem suggest that men's dominance over women is ultimately self-defeating, as it creates a rigid and restrictive society that is unable to adapt to change. The simple and direct language of the poem also suggests that men's dominance over women is ultimately unsustainable, as it relies on a simplistic and reductionist view of the world that does not allow for complexity or nuance.

In conclusion, "Poetry, That Women Are But Men's Shadows" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the complex and often fraught relationship between men and women in society. While the poem presents a bleak and cynical view of this relationship, it also suggests that this view is ultimately unsustainable and self-defeating.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry That Women Are But Men's Shadows: An Analysis

Ben Jonson, one of the most celebrated poets of the Renaissance era, wrote a poem titled "Poetry That Women Are But Men's Shadows." This poem is a masterpiece of literary art that explores the relationship between men and women and the role of poetry in shaping this relationship. In this article, we will delve into the meaning and significance of this poem and explore its relevance in today's society.

The poem begins with the line, "Poetry, that feigned to be a maid." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as it introduces the idea that poetry is not just a form of art but also a personification of a woman. Jonson uses the metaphor of poetry as a woman to explore the relationship between men and women in society. He suggests that poetry is a reflection of the way men view women, as mere shadows or reflections of themselves.

The second line of the poem reads, "But was a wanton." This line suggests that poetry is not just a passive reflection of men's desires but also an active participant in shaping them. Jonson portrays poetry as a seductive force that lures men into its world and shapes their desires and perceptions of women. He suggests that poetry is not just a reflection of society but also a powerful force that shapes it.

The third line of the poem reads, "Men, like shadows, were our joys." This line reinforces the idea that women are mere shadows or reflections of men. Jonson suggests that men derive their joy and pleasure from women, but they do not see them as equals. Instead, they view women as mere shadows or reflections of themselves, devoid of their own identity and agency.

The fourth line of the poem reads, "Others but our toys." This line suggests that women are not just objects of men's desires but also their playthings. Jonson portrays women as passive objects that men can use and discard at will. He suggests that women have no agency or power in society and are at the mercy of men's desires.

The fifth line of the poem reads, "Thou art not, what thou seem'st." This line introduces the idea that poetry is not just a reflection of society but also a form of deception. Jonson suggests that poetry creates an illusion of reality that is not true to life. He suggests that poetry is a form of artifice that distorts the truth and shapes our perceptions of the world.

The sixth line of the poem reads, "Love, if so thou art, be gone." This line suggests that love, as portrayed in poetry, is not real but a mere illusion. Jonson suggests that love is not a genuine emotion but a product of poetry's artifice. He suggests that love, as portrayed in poetry, is a form of deception that distorts our perceptions of reality.

The seventh line of the poem reads, "She that gives her heart away." This line introduces the idea that women are not just passive objects of men's desires but also active participants in shaping their own destiny. Jonson suggests that women have agency and power in society and can shape their own lives. He suggests that women are not just shadows or reflections of men but independent individuals with their own desires and aspirations.

The eighth line of the poem reads, "She whose folly did her marry." This line suggests that women are not just passive victims of men's desires but also active participants in shaping their own destiny. Jonson suggests that women have agency and power in society and can make their own choices. He suggests that women are not just objects of men's desires but independent individuals with their own desires and aspirations.

The ninth line of the poem reads, "He who did her folly wed." This line suggests that men are not just passive victims of women's desires but also active participants in shaping their own destiny. Jonson suggests that men have agency and power in society and can make their own choices. He suggests that men are not just objects of women's desires but independent individuals with their own desires and aspirations.

The tenth line of the poem reads, "Poetry is a dream." This line reinforces the idea that poetry is not real but a mere illusion. Jonson suggests that poetry creates a dreamlike world that is not true to life. He suggests that poetry is a form of artifice that distorts the truth and shapes our perceptions of the world.

In conclusion, "Poetry That Women Are But Men's Shadows" is a masterpiece of literary art that explores the relationship between men and women and the role of poetry in shaping this relationship. Jonson uses the metaphor of poetry as a woman to explore the way men view women as mere shadows or reflections of themselves. He suggests that poetry is not just a reflection of society but also a powerful force that shapes it. He portrays women as independent individuals with their own desires and aspirations and suggests that men have agency and power in society. Jonson suggests that poetry creates an illusion of reality that is not true to life and distorts our perceptions of the world. This poem is a timeless masterpiece that continues to resonate with readers today and reminds us of the power of poetry to shape our perceptions of the world.

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