How Does George Meredith Use Metaphors In Modern Love
Love is philosophized and debated by some of the greatest minds from the past and present alike. Various works of art, stories, and poems have attempted to convey the feeling or essence of love to make the idea of it more tangible. In Modern Love by George Meredith, Meredith utilizes metaphors and imagery to portray a couple in love in the modern day.
The use of metaphors in his poem is specifically used to convey the irony of love itself. By comparing the couple to traditionally negative ideas, Meredith captures the common discord in marriage and relationships. The comparison is done to show what love has become, hence the title, Modern Love. In conjunction with this, the author compares the couple to the artwork of medieval tombs, implying
that though they are unhappy they must stay together for the sake of staying together. The pair is obviously resentful and unfeeling towards one another, characterized by the “dead black eyes” and “sculpted effigies”. Both of which hold a connotation of death, effigies being a statue used to honor the deceased. In the poem, Meredith describes modern love as something long gone using specific metaphors.
The highly descriptive style of the poem is to be able to show just how falsified their love is. By using descriptive language, the author makes no mistake in letting the reader know that the relationship is dying. From the girl lying in bed sobbing while her lover does nothing to the imagery of tombs, the reader has a clear view of what modern love has become. The author took 3 lines to describe the impact of her sobs on the man. Showing that though he loves her, he doesn’t do anything to help. This is what causes the relationship to spiral. The imagery of tombs and swords give way to the thoughts of the couple, no matter how unfortunate. Meredith uses imagery to convey his idea of modern love.
George Meredith has a very specific view on the warped thing that love has become. With a negative outlook, he views modern romance as something dying. To farther his cynic view, he uses imagery and metaphors to convey love in a modern age in his poem Modern Love.
The use of metaphors in his poem is specifically used to convey the irony of love itself. By comparing the couple to traditionally negative ideas, Meredith captures the common discord in marriage and relationships. The comparison is done to show what love has become, hence the title, Modern Love. In conjunction with this, the author compares the couple to the artwork of medieval tombs, implying
that though they are unhappy they must stay together for the sake of staying together. The pair is obviously resentful and unfeeling towards one another, characterized by the “dead black eyes” and “sculpted effigies”. Both of which hold a connotation of death, effigies being a statue used to honor the deceased. In the poem, Meredith describes modern love as something long gone using specific metaphors.
The highly descriptive style of the poem is to be able to show just how falsified their love is. By using descriptive language, the author makes no mistake in letting the reader know that the relationship is dying. From the girl lying in bed sobbing while her lover does nothing to the imagery of tombs, the reader has a clear view of what modern love has become. The author took 3 lines to describe the impact of her sobs on the man. Showing that though he loves her, he doesn’t do anything to help. This is what causes the relationship to spiral. The imagery of tombs and swords give way to the thoughts of the couple, no matter how unfortunate. Meredith uses imagery to convey his idea of modern love.
George Meredith has a very specific view on the warped thing that love has become. With a negative outlook, he views modern romance as something dying. To farther his cynic view, he uses imagery and metaphors to convey love in a modern age in his poem Modern Love.