Christopher Marlowe’s poem entitled “The Passionate Shepherd to his Love” and Sir Walter Raleigh’s poem entitled “The Nymph’s reply to the Shepherd” both pertain to romance, however, they both differ greatly in their viewpoints regarding it. Marlowe portrays an idealized and fantasized viewpoint of romance through the Shepherd in his poem. On the other hand, Raleigh portrays a cynical and realistic viewpoint of romance through the Nymph in his poem. Through the use of the Shepherd and the Nymph, both Marlowe and Raleigh portray their personal beliefs regarding romance, and their opinions seem to stem from individual experiences. Marlowe seems to be inexperienced in romance, hence he highly idealizes it, while Raleigh seems to have lived experience
…show more content…
The Shepherd, relentless in his mission, offers the Nymph a bed of roses. And I will make thee a bed of roses And a thousand fragrant posies, A cap of flowers, and a kirtle Embroidered all with leaves of myrtle. (Marlowe, LL 9-12)
The Shepherd is quite the romantic man who believes in grand romantic gestures. His hope of young love and innocence particularly shines through in this passage with his offerings of roses, posies, a cap of flowers, and a kirtle. The Shepherd does not think of the feasibility or practicality of any of his romantic gestures. His love has blinded him from reality. To this sweet offering, the Nymph, who is in no way innocent, again gives a direct rejection by bringing reality back into the scenario. The flowers do fade, and wanton fields To wayward winter reckoning yields; A honey tongue, a heart of gall Is fancy’s spring, but sorrow’s fall. (Raleigh, LL …show more content…
Marlowe portrays a naive and fantasized viewpoint of romance through the Shepherd in his poem entitled “The Passionate Shepherd to his Love.” In contrast, Raleigh portrays a wise and realistic viewpoint of romance through the Nymph in his poem entitled “The Nymph’s reply to the Shepherd.” The Shepherd and the Nymph are merely pawns that Marlowe and Raleigh use to depict their individual opinions regarding romance. These opinions seem to stem from personal experiences. Marlowe’s unrealistic offers seem to suggest he is inexperienced in romance, hence he highly idealizes it, while Raleigh’s direct rejections and doses of reality seem to suggest he has had bad experience in romance, hence he has a practical opinion on romance. Raleigh views it as unnecessary due to its temporary nature and impracticality. He is a more realistic man who does not believe in frivolous things such as romance. Essentially, these poems, which at first may not seem significant on the surface level, say a lot about the authors’ personal beliefs on romance which seem to directly stem from personal experiences, or in Marlowe’s case, lack of
The Shepherd, relentless in his mission, offers the Nymph a bed of roses. And I will make thee a bed of roses And a thousand fragrant posies, A cap of flowers, and a kirtle Embroidered all with leaves of myrtle. (Marlowe, LL 9-12)
The Shepherd is quite the romantic man who believes in grand romantic gestures. His hope of young love and innocence particularly shines through in this passage with his offerings of roses, posies, a cap of flowers, and a kirtle. The Shepherd does not think of the feasibility or practicality of any of his romantic gestures. His love has blinded him from reality. To this sweet offering, the Nymph, who is in no way innocent, again gives a direct rejection by bringing reality back into the scenario. The flowers do fade, and wanton fields To wayward winter reckoning yields; A honey tongue, a heart of gall Is fancy’s spring, but sorrow’s fall. (Raleigh, LL …show more content…
Marlowe portrays a naive and fantasized viewpoint of romance through the Shepherd in his poem entitled “The Passionate Shepherd to his Love.” In contrast, Raleigh portrays a wise and realistic viewpoint of romance through the Nymph in his poem entitled “The Nymph’s reply to the Shepherd.” The Shepherd and the Nymph are merely pawns that Marlowe and Raleigh use to depict their individual opinions regarding romance. These opinions seem to stem from personal experiences. Marlowe’s unrealistic offers seem to suggest he is inexperienced in romance, hence he highly idealizes it, while Raleigh’s direct rejections and doses of reality seem to suggest he has had bad experience in romance, hence he has a practical opinion on romance. Raleigh views it as unnecessary due to its temporary nature and impracticality. He is a more realistic man who does not believe in frivolous things such as romance. Essentially, these poems, which at first may not seem significant on the surface level, say a lot about the authors’ personal beliefs on romance which seem to directly stem from personal experiences, or in Marlowe’s case, lack of