Analysis of Poem: Promises Like Pie Crust
ENG100W
10/22/2012
Analysis of Poem: Promises like Pie Crust
Promises are unrealistic constraints. They essentially impose restrictive barriers to dedication and commitment because they tend to break easily and only bring obligation and pressure with the effort to keep such promises. The poem, “Promises like Pie Crust” by Christina Rossetti shows this through her negative perspectives toward promises. Such views lead her forsakes relationship. For Rossetti, promises break, lack liberty, and are blind to future.
First of all, the speaker denies promises due to her distrust in promises. In the beginning of her poem, Rossetti reflects her general belief about promises using the metaphor of crusts of the pie. Just like these crusts that are easily broken off from the pie, she believes that promises are made to be broken. She states, “Promises like pie crust.”(Rossetti) She uses pie-crust to describe her belief about promise. In general, regardless of kind of pie, pie-crust is part which often breaks easily and made to be broken for protecting more important ingredients. She uses pie-crust to refer promises because she thinks that promises do not stand forever. At some point it will lose validity. In her opinion, type of promise does not guarantee its never-ending validity, just like pie-crust that breaks no matter what kinds of pie it is. Rossetti’s use of pie-crust strongly illustrates this short durability of promises that tend to break easily in relationships, and also how they are not trustworthy.
Secondly, she refuses promises as a protection of liberty. What she argues is that promises often limit one’s freedom. For example, when a relationship continues for many years, normally it becomes more committed and serious relationship. In order to have a committed and serious relationship, it demands many promises between the couple. The promise they make usually asks a great amount of dedication and contribution. However, dedication and contribution make
10/22/2012
Analysis of Poem: Promises like Pie Crust
Promises are unrealistic constraints. They essentially impose restrictive barriers to dedication and commitment because they tend to break easily and only bring obligation and pressure with the effort to keep such promises. The poem, “Promises like Pie Crust” by Christina Rossetti shows this through her negative perspectives toward promises. Such views lead her forsakes relationship. For Rossetti, promises break, lack liberty, and are blind to future.
First of all, the speaker denies promises due to her distrust in promises. In the beginning of her poem, Rossetti reflects her general belief about promises using the metaphor of crusts of the pie. Just like these crusts that are easily broken off from the pie, she believes that promises are made to be broken. She states, “Promises like pie crust.”(Rossetti) She uses pie-crust to describe her belief about promise. In general, regardless of kind of pie, pie-crust is part which often breaks easily and made to be broken for protecting more important ingredients. She uses pie-crust to refer promises because she thinks that promises do not stand forever. At some point it will lose validity. In her opinion, type of promise does not guarantee its never-ending validity, just like pie-crust that breaks no matter what kinds of pie it is. Rossetti’s use of pie-crust strongly illustrates this short durability of promises that tend to break easily in relationships, and also how they are not trustworthy.
Secondly, she refuses promises as a protection of liberty. What she argues is that promises often limit one’s freedom. For example, when a relationship continues for many years, normally it becomes more committed and serious relationship. In order to have a committed and serious relationship, it demands many promises between the couple. The promise they make usually asks a great amount of dedication and contribution. However, dedication and contribution make