The Ups and Downs of Love
Uploaded by stuffisgood on May 30, 2001
The Ups And Downs of Love
Love is a constant. Although it comes in many forms and many different ways love cannot be changed and has existed since the dawn of time. No matter where you are in the world, love is still the same thing, it is universal and is experienced by everyone in their lifetime. Poetry has been used for centuries to express feelings and emotions and is the most effective way to express love. Poets have been able to show all aspects of love, the ups and the downs throughout time.
“Lucy Poems” by William Wordsworth, portray both sides of love in his “Lucy Poems”. He describes the contrasting feelings that come with love both the, brilliant ups of being in love when the poet describes his love for Lucy, and the deep depressing loss of losing a loved one. Wordsworth is was one of the first romantic poets, having a new, modern approach towards poetry which in his time was unheard of, he felt poetry should be about emotions and feelings, it shouldn’t be inhibited or stifled by politics or city social life and this is reflected in all of his poems. “She Dwelt Among Untrodden Ways” is the last in the “Lucy Poems Series” in which Lucy dies. The poet describes Lucy as A Maid whom there were none to praise ; And very few to love” and that “She lived unknown” however, despite the fact that she was not renowned, he still felt great loss and grief over her death, which is a sign of true love. Wordsworth says “But she is in her grave, and oh, The difference to me!” and his life would never be the same after this one single event.
Robert Browning with “Porphyria’s Lover” shows another side of love, desire and how quickly this desire can lead to madness. The poem is written in a more methodical, less emotional manner, being a characteristic of the Victorian Era in which Browning was writing. It tells the story of Porphyria who returns home to her love. Browning has portrayed a very different mindset in this poem, with the subject of the poem not being in a secure frame of mind, but on the edge of insanity. Porphyria worshipped him and he thought of he obviously felt the same emotions towards her
“Porphyria worshiped me: surprise
Made my heart swell, and still it grew”
However, his actions...