Sex Without love lit analysis
In lines 2-3 in the poem Sex without Love, the Sharon Olds compares the lovers as beautiful dancers working together to do a performance on the ice. The connotations suggest that sex without love is only a performance. They are not two people bound by wills and vows, they are only collaborators. Showing off each others moxie for mere entertainment.
The first simile compares the faces of the two performers to steak. "faces, red as steak" describes the faces you would make while on a date. Most first dates are at restaurants talking over "steak and wine". For most males spending money on date will hopefully lead to sex or the "performance". Also both parties are intoxicated from the wine which also increases the chances for guilt free sex. The second simile "Wet as the children at birth whose mothers are going to give them away", talks more about the chain reaction of guilt free and loveless sex. Females get "wet" when the are aroused during sex and produce a lubricant. The also get "wet" and when going through painful child birth. Most intoxicated couples often forget to put on a condom. And if your not ready you will either have an abortion or, give your child away after they are conceived without a second though.
In lines 18-24 the poet compares a sexual partner as a runner. To me this means that both sexual partners know they are lone wolfs and do things on there own terms. They don’t need to be with anyone but sometimes they need a collaborator, their ice skater to be sure of themselves.
The word cardiovascular is hyphenated to show that they are separate but yet they are bonded by sex. This reflects to the poem because the entire poem is about two people having loveless sex. Also they are exercising just like the ice-skaters because sex is a very tiring performance.
In the poem cold and aloneness are one in the same. When people are cold they either but something warm on. Or they get the warmth from someone else. This also pertains to the poem.
The first simile compares the faces of the two performers to steak. "faces, red as steak" describes the faces you would make while on a date. Most first dates are at restaurants talking over "steak and wine". For most males spending money on date will hopefully lead to sex or the "performance". Also both parties are intoxicated from the wine which also increases the chances for guilt free sex. The second simile "Wet as the children at birth whose mothers are going to give them away", talks more about the chain reaction of guilt free and loveless sex. Females get "wet" when the are aroused during sex and produce a lubricant. The also get "wet" and when going through painful child birth. Most intoxicated couples often forget to put on a condom. And if your not ready you will either have an abortion or, give your child away after they are conceived without a second though.
In lines 18-24 the poet compares a sexual partner as a runner. To me this means that both sexual partners know they are lone wolfs and do things on there own terms. They don’t need to be with anyone but sometimes they need a collaborator, their ice skater to be sure of themselves.
The word cardiovascular is hyphenated to show that they are separate but yet they are bonded by sex. This reflects to the poem because the entire poem is about two people having loveless sex. Also they are exercising just like the ice-skaters because sex is a very tiring performance.
In the poem cold and aloneness are one in the same. When people are cold they either but something warm on. Or they get the warmth from someone else. This also pertains to the poem.