The Passionate Shepherd
Both “The Passionate Shepherd to his Love” and “The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd” share many traits together, portraying the two poems as a question and answer exchange. However, though the two poems revolve around the same central message of love, they both provide contrasting viewpoints on the subject of passion and the varying effects it has on people.
The exchange presented in the two poems could not have been more different and the same. While the theme in both poems may have the word love in it, the polarization of lust and cynicism becomes apparent through the increasing number of support given by each side. “The Passionate Shepherd to his Love” demonstrates how love is unyielding and all-conquering, from the “beds of roses” to the “gown made of the finest wool” (Marlowe 9-13). From this, the shepherd strives to show justification so the love can be reciprocated, however, the nymph has a much different philosophy. In “The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd”, Raleigh expresses how passion deceives the mind into irrationality by countering the shepherd’s persuasive remarks. The nymph’s philosophy on love differs immensely from the shepherd’s emphasis on superficial things; sure coral clasps and amber studs are great gifts, but “All these in me no means can move / To come to thee and be thy love” (Raleigh 19-20). The nymph does not …show more content…
First off, they both view the exchange in the first-person perspective. This perspective gives the dialogue in both poems much more depth, allowing the reader to realize how committed the shepherd and the nymph are in regards to love. The shepherd proclaims that “If these delights thy mind may move, / Then live with me and be my love,” indicating he would concede his love if the lover did not fall into the criteria (Marlowe 23-24). Similarly, the nymph would also change her mind if “Had joys no date nor age no need” (Raleigh
The exchange presented in the two poems could not have been more different and the same. While the theme in both poems may have the word love in it, the polarization of lust and cynicism becomes apparent through the increasing number of support given by each side. “The Passionate Shepherd to his Love” demonstrates how love is unyielding and all-conquering, from the “beds of roses” to the “gown made of the finest wool” (Marlowe 9-13). From this, the shepherd strives to show justification so the love can be reciprocated, however, the nymph has a much different philosophy. In “The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd”, Raleigh expresses how passion deceives the mind into irrationality by countering the shepherd’s persuasive remarks. The nymph’s philosophy on love differs immensely from the shepherd’s emphasis on superficial things; sure coral clasps and amber studs are great gifts, but “All these in me no means can move / To come to thee and be thy love” (Raleigh 19-20). The nymph does not …show more content…
First off, they both view the exchange in the first-person perspective. This perspective gives the dialogue in both poems much more depth, allowing the reader to realize how committed the shepherd and the nymph are in regards to love. The shepherd proclaims that “If these delights thy mind may move, / Then live with me and be my love,” indicating he would concede his love if the lover did not fall into the criteria (Marlowe 23-24). Similarly, the nymph would also change her mind if “Had joys no date nor age no need” (Raleigh