Sidney’s Virtues, Shakespeare’s Passion Throughout time, literature has tested a variety of roles within society. Much of early English literature was of a highly religious nature, and often used to teach lessons of morality and virtue, chivalric romance, and epic historical sagas. The purpose and role of poetry and other originative writing has been the topic of much controversy since its very beginning. As we have bared witness to in this class, poetry comes in many different forms, and with many different purposes. In defense of its value and worth Sir Phillip Sydney wrote his unequalled essay “In Defense of Poesy” in attempt to end the debate over the moralistic and virtuous ends of poetry. Sydney explains that poetry is an “art of imitation” and serves as a vehicle for knowledge and
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By viewing the work as a private encounter, as scholars believe was the original intent, it takes on a new form. A memento of sorts from lover to lover, and friend to friend. I do believe in this respect, not only virtue, but also secular components take on a new hue. Private words aren’t sinful, but in fact they embody a beautiful work of art, exactly the way Sidney says it should be. The poem teaches of unrequited love, beauty in unsuspecting places, and impossible self-restraint in the face of desire. Sitting idly watching your love be loved by another is a better test of virtue than any mortal thoughts of debauchery could impugn. Unclear if the difference is the intent of the writer, or the mindfulness of the reader, the polarizing qualities within each single line builds an increasingly intricate web, of which it is the job of the reader to untangle. What is sin to one is virtue to another, and sometimes they are one in the
By viewing the work as a private encounter, as scholars believe was the original intent, it takes on a new form. A memento of sorts from lover to lover, and friend to friend. I do believe in this respect, not only virtue, but also secular components take on a new hue. Private words aren’t sinful, but in fact they embody a beautiful work of art, exactly the way Sidney says it should be. The poem teaches of unrequited love, beauty in unsuspecting places, and impossible self-restraint in the face of desire. Sitting idly watching your love be loved by another is a better test of virtue than any mortal thoughts of debauchery could impugn. Unclear if the difference is the intent of the writer, or the mindfulness of the reader, the polarizing qualities within each single line builds an increasingly intricate web, of which it is the job of the reader to untangle. What is sin to one is virtue to another, and sometimes they are one in the