In the poems, "I, Being Born a Woman and Distressed," and "An Ancient Gesture," Millay discusses the similar emotional views that are partially felt throughout womankind. In so doing, the portrayal of modern feminine experiences in these poems show the reader the feelings commonly associated with women, due to their like emotional occurrences.
Firstly, in the poem, " I, Being Born a Women and Distressed," the octave reveals the feelings the speaker encountered towards herself and a man during a sexual act. In the first line the speaker sets the tone and attitude by using the feeling of being "distressed." As the poem progresses, the speaker reveals that she is not talking just about her own "needs and notions," but that of other women by …show more content…
Line 9 begins by stating a negative command, "Think not for this," this clearly grabs the attention of the reader and gives the text a more classical outlook. To analyze further, the word "treason" is used in the sense that there is a battle going on inside her, as if she is committing "treason" towards her "staggering brain." The battle between her strong body, "stout blood," and her weak mind, "staggering brain," shows that some individuals, are guided by their appetite for sex rather than their reasoning. With this in mind, the word "love" is finally brought up in the poem. Consequently, it is brought up to strengthen the fact that the encounter between the two was not about love, but about lust. To end, we are told that nothing about this certain "frenzy" will be carried out in the future, meaning that the speaker does not want anything to do with him, due to the lack of importance he plays in her life. Thus, the speaker substantially admits to her lust driven episode and concludes that she, much like other women crave more, ultimately making her act justly, deciding that she never wants to feel that way …show more content…
The keyword of this poem is "Gesture," not only is it in the title, but this is what is being compared throughout the poem. Line 1 and 2 begin with a mental picture of a woman crying and wiping her tears on the "corner of [her] apron," this compares the similar feelings experienced to that of Penelope's, "Penelope did this to." As we read on we are introduced to the historical background of the relationship between Penelope and Ulysses. To add clarity, Penelope weaved a tapestry and then undid it until her husband returned, ultimately denying any belief of his death. The speaker suggested that the heartache and physical tiredness felt by Penelope in lines 5 and 8 are carried out because there is "nothing else to do." By stating this we assume that the speaker also feels this way about her struggle, ultimately bringing in the idea of the unity among women and their experiences. Overall, part one of this poem reveals the like emotional occurrences between a woman of an ancient time and that of a woman of a modern time
Firstly, in the poem, " I, Being Born a Women and Distressed," the octave reveals the feelings the speaker encountered towards herself and a man during a sexual act. In the first line the speaker sets the tone and attitude by using the feeling of being "distressed." As the poem progresses, the speaker reveals that she is not talking just about her own "needs and notions," but that of other women by …show more content…
Line 9 begins by stating a negative command, "Think not for this," this clearly grabs the attention of the reader and gives the text a more classical outlook. To analyze further, the word "treason" is used in the sense that there is a battle going on inside her, as if she is committing "treason" towards her "staggering brain." The battle between her strong body, "stout blood," and her weak mind, "staggering brain," shows that some individuals, are guided by their appetite for sex rather than their reasoning. With this in mind, the word "love" is finally brought up in the poem. Consequently, it is brought up to strengthen the fact that the encounter between the two was not about love, but about lust. To end, we are told that nothing about this certain "frenzy" will be carried out in the future, meaning that the speaker does not want anything to do with him, due to the lack of importance he plays in her life. Thus, the speaker substantially admits to her lust driven episode and concludes that she, much like other women crave more, ultimately making her act justly, deciding that she never wants to feel that way …show more content…
The keyword of this poem is "Gesture," not only is it in the title, but this is what is being compared throughout the poem. Line 1 and 2 begin with a mental picture of a woman crying and wiping her tears on the "corner of [her] apron," this compares the similar feelings experienced to that of Penelope's, "Penelope did this to." As we read on we are introduced to the historical background of the relationship between Penelope and Ulysses. To add clarity, Penelope weaved a tapestry and then undid it until her husband returned, ultimately denying any belief of his death. The speaker suggested that the heartache and physical tiredness felt by Penelope in lines 5 and 8 are carried out because there is "nothing else to do." By stating this we assume that the speaker also feels this way about her struggle, ultimately bringing in the idea of the unity among women and their experiences. Overall, part one of this poem reveals the like emotional occurrences between a woman of an ancient time and that of a woman of a modern time