W.H Auden’s modernist techniques combined with his unique style of writing makes his poetry difficult to read and interpret. However, his eccentric use of words calls for the reader’s imagination to create images that help grasp the central idea of the poem. Such can be seen in “Law like Love” starting with the ironic nature of the title. Law, as we know it is something which has clear cut definitions and rules which many do not favour. Love on the other hand, is not meant to have boundaries and to be regulated by rules or be dominated. To compare law with something as eternal and joy provoking as love is completely absurd.
Law is one of the oldest concepts in the world. Everybody seems to have an idea as to what law is, but Auden ventures …show more content…
The youth can also be said to possess the Law in their pure “senses”, before the society corrupts them.
The Judge is seen to be an authoritarian figure, the following lines from the poem supports it; “Law, says the judge as he looks down his nose, speaking clearly and most severely”. Auden points out a contrast, how the law is seen to be completely normal and ordinary to those who are well-versed in it whereas the law is seen differently through the eyes of ordinary people. The judge interprets his society’s laws and applies precedents: “Law is as I’ve told you before, Law is The Law”.
There are always people who want to impose their own ideas upon others such as the priest and the judge. Religion and the justice system have equal claims to the law, they both seek to govern people’s lives according to a strict code of behavior that rests squarely on punishment. Both the priest and the judge are depicted unfavorably, with the priest possessing “a priestly look” while towering on his podium, and the judge “speaking clearly and most …show more content…
The scholar also points out that the law offers both protection and restriction for all. “Law is the clothes men wear” “Anytime, anywhere” Through these lines, Auden brings out the truth that law is everyday routine life and that aims to protect us from external harm.
The “loud angry crowd” defines law as whatever they want, just as the “soft idiot” who claims the law to be “me”. Auden presents that we don’t know much about the law but acknowledges its existence and states that we should not be confused with what we want it to be. Auden portrays that those who want to alter the world according to their own ideology will attempt to impose their principles and laws upon the world.
The repetition of “Law” and “Law is” in the poem emphasizes the multiple ways that people interpret the Law for their own ends. The irregular length of stanzas emphasizes the same. Auden describes that what guides people’s idea of law is their own selfishness or their love and that the idea of law is not fixed in place or time. He concludes that law is like love because we do not know where it comes from or why it has come, we cannot compel others nor free from
Law is one of the oldest concepts in the world. Everybody seems to have an idea as to what law is, but Auden ventures …show more content…
The youth can also be said to possess the Law in their pure “senses”, before the society corrupts them.
The Judge is seen to be an authoritarian figure, the following lines from the poem supports it; “Law, says the judge as he looks down his nose, speaking clearly and most severely”. Auden points out a contrast, how the law is seen to be completely normal and ordinary to those who are well-versed in it whereas the law is seen differently through the eyes of ordinary people. The judge interprets his society’s laws and applies precedents: “Law is as I’ve told you before, Law is The Law”.
There are always people who want to impose their own ideas upon others such as the priest and the judge. Religion and the justice system have equal claims to the law, they both seek to govern people’s lives according to a strict code of behavior that rests squarely on punishment. Both the priest and the judge are depicted unfavorably, with the priest possessing “a priestly look” while towering on his podium, and the judge “speaking clearly and most …show more content…
The scholar also points out that the law offers both protection and restriction for all. “Law is the clothes men wear” “Anytime, anywhere” Through these lines, Auden brings out the truth that law is everyday routine life and that aims to protect us from external harm.
The “loud angry crowd” defines law as whatever they want, just as the “soft idiot” who claims the law to be “me”. Auden presents that we don’t know much about the law but acknowledges its existence and states that we should not be confused with what we want it to be. Auden portrays that those who want to alter the world according to their own ideology will attempt to impose their principles and laws upon the world.
The repetition of “Law” and “Law is” in the poem emphasizes the multiple ways that people interpret the Law for their own ends. The irregular length of stanzas emphasizes the same. Auden describes that what guides people’s idea of law is their own selfishness or their love and that the idea of law is not fixed in place or time. He concludes that law is like love because we do not know where it comes from or why it has come, we cannot compel others nor free from