Go Lovely Rose By Elizabeth Bishop Analysis

Can time be stopped? No matter how rich, poor, young or old a person is they all battle an enemy that does not have any physical embodiment which is time. Time moves forward no matter what; it waits for no one. In the poem “The Fish” by Elizabeth Bishop published in 1955, the speaker describes a fish she caught. The fish was old and already had five fishing hooks attached around his mouth. The speaker concluded that the fish has battled death five times and decides to let the fish go. In the poem “Go, lovely Rose” by Edmund Waller published in 1645, the speaker compares his love to a rose. The speaker noted that his love is like a rose and should be admired by everyone. He later concluded that time will take her youth and she will ultimately die. Therefore, she should accept his love for her and allow people to admire her beauty. Although these poems are very different in every aspect, they share a common theme which is time. A complex system that is …show more content…
This poem is mainly based on lust rather than loving someone for who they truly are. According to Devan Corey, “This poem is a sweet song of love from the young man to his lover. However, if I were the woman, I would not accept his love until I can trust him … this poem that the man desires more of the body of the woman than her real love for him” (Corey). “Go, lovely Rose” compares a woman with a rose, which is an object without a soul. Furthermore, the speaker only makes reference to the youth of the woman and her physical appearance and disregards her feeling toward him. The only reason the speaker provides why the women should love him back is because time will take her beauty and her youth. The speaker sounds indigent and try to manipulate her into loving him back. The speaker undoubtedly keeps on reminding the woman that her body is the only thing that is moral and discards her soul, which is