Poets often adapt their poetry to the events and occurrences that shape the world around them. Chilean poet Pablo Neruda perfectly incorporates his surroundings into his work. After becoming famous, he was appointed as a consul for Chile and was stationed in Spain during the Spanish Civil War (Poetry Foundation). During the war, Neruda became a strong supporter of the communist Republican Party; when the Republicans lost the war he lost many of his close friends, which greatly impacted his writing. His early romantic poetry focused on the his deep affection towards his beloved but after facing the revolution and the understanding of communism his poems shifted in focus and intensity and became more inclined towards wanting to protect rather
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Neruda claims that “no one stops the river of dawn./ No one stops the river of your hands” (Sonnet XLIX; 4-8). Using anaphora reinforces the fact that his lover is a separate being from the rest of the world because of her ravishing beauty. In “Sonnet IX”, Neruda argues that, “Together you and I, my love, we seal the silence,/ while the sea destroys its constant statues/ … we hold the only and accosted tenderness.” (9- 14). The sea is a metaphor for the world, as it is destroying the static things surrounding it. Since the two lovers are the only ones sharing ‘accosted tenderness’ they are portrayed as a pure, separate unit from the world. Before the war Neruda used aquatic imagery to talk about the strength and independence of his lover while after the war Neruda uses aquatic imagery to describe the violent, broken world that the two lovers inhabit to juxtapose the pure and isolated …show more content…
In “Sonnet XXIII”, he discusses how, “the jasmine copied its starry secret,/… gave peace to my eyes and sun to my sense.” (2-4). He describes their love as a ‘starry secret’ that is protected by the sun. He emphasizes the fact that their love should be free from the world by using metaphors that represent freedom and independence. In “Sonnet XLIX”, he articulates that, “the sky closes its wings over you/ taking you and bringing you to my arms/ with punctual and mysterious courtesy:” (9- 11). Typically the sky symbolizes freedom. Using the sky to represent something that is concealing and providing protection. It accentuates the fact that Neruda is only concerned with his lover being protected and to be able to do that, the sky must close over and bring her to him. He recognizes his unconventional use of the sky as a symbol through the next line which hints at the idea that the sky is doing something ‘mysterious’. Additionally, by showing that even the sky is willing to protect his lover Neruda shows the reader how exceptional she is. In Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair, Neruda uses celestial imagery to talk about passion and lust but in 100 Love Sonnets, he uses celestial imagery as a tool to protect his lover from the world they live in.
Neruda was greatly influenced by the rural environment he grew up in (Academy of American Poets). In Twenty Love Poems and a
Neruda claims that “no one stops the river of dawn./ No one stops the river of your hands” (Sonnet XLIX; 4-8). Using anaphora reinforces the fact that his lover is a separate being from the rest of the world because of her ravishing beauty. In “Sonnet IX”, Neruda argues that, “Together you and I, my love, we seal the silence,/ while the sea destroys its constant statues/ … we hold the only and accosted tenderness.” (9- 14). The sea is a metaphor for the world, as it is destroying the static things surrounding it. Since the two lovers are the only ones sharing ‘accosted tenderness’ they are portrayed as a pure, separate unit from the world. Before the war Neruda used aquatic imagery to talk about the strength and independence of his lover while after the war Neruda uses aquatic imagery to describe the violent, broken world that the two lovers inhabit to juxtapose the pure and isolated …show more content…
In “Sonnet XXIII”, he discusses how, “the jasmine copied its starry secret,/… gave peace to my eyes and sun to my sense.” (2-4). He describes their love as a ‘starry secret’ that is protected by the sun. He emphasizes the fact that their love should be free from the world by using metaphors that represent freedom and independence. In “Sonnet XLIX”, he articulates that, “the sky closes its wings over you/ taking you and bringing you to my arms/ with punctual and mysterious courtesy:” (9- 11). Typically the sky symbolizes freedom. Using the sky to represent something that is concealing and providing protection. It accentuates the fact that Neruda is only concerned with his lover being protected and to be able to do that, the sky must close over and bring her to him. He recognizes his unconventional use of the sky as a symbol through the next line which hints at the idea that the sky is doing something ‘mysterious’. Additionally, by showing that even the sky is willing to protect his lover Neruda shows the reader how exceptional she is. In Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair, Neruda uses celestial imagery to talk about passion and lust but in 100 Love Sonnets, he uses celestial imagery as a tool to protect his lover from the world they live in.
Neruda was greatly influenced by the rural environment he grew up in (Academy of American Poets). In Twenty Love Poems and a