'He That Loves A Rosy Cheek' by Thomas Carew
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He that loves a rosy cheek,
Or a coral lip admires,
Or from star-like eyes doth seek
Fuel to maintain his fires:
As old Time makes these decay,
So his flames must waste away.
But a smooth and steadfast mind,
Gentle thoughts, and calm desires,
Hearts with equal love combined,
Kindle never-dying fires:
Where these are not, I despise
Lovely cheeks or lips or eyes.
Editor 1 Interpretation
"He That Loves A Rosy Cheek" by Thomas Carew: A Detailed Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Thomas Carew's "He That Loves A Rosy Cheek" is a sonnet that celebrates the beauty and desirability of a woman with a rosy complexion. This classic poem, which was first published in 1640, has been widely anthologized and admired by generations of readers for its lyricism, passion, and sensual imagery. In this detailed literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes, structure, language, and historical context of this poem, and show how it embodies the conventions and contradictions of early modern love poetry.
The Poem's Themes
At its core, "He That Loves A Rosy Cheek" is a poem about desire, beauty, and idealization. The speaker of the poem addresses his beloved, whom he describes as having "rosy cheeks," "ivory forehead," and "hair more black than Jett." These physical attributes are not only praised for their beauty but also for their symbolic significance. Rosy cheeks, for example, are associated with health, youth, and vitality, while ivory foreheads suggest purity, innocence, and nobility. The speaker also compares his beloved's "sweet breath" to "Arabia's perfumes," which implies that she is exotic and alluring. Thus, the woman in the poem is not only beautiful but also a source of pleasure and fascination for the speaker.
However, the poem's celebration of beauty and desire is also tempered by a sense of melancholy and impermanence. The speaker acknowledges that "roses fade," and that his beloved's beauty, like all things in life, is subject to decay and mortality. He also implies that his beloved is unattainable or out of reach, as he describes her as "high-built" and "proud," and himself as "unworthy" to approach her. This sense of distance and longing adds a layer of complexity and ambiguity to the poem, as it suggests that the speaker's desire is not only physical but also emotional and spiritual. He loves not only the woman's rosy cheeks but also her elusive presence and unattainable aura.
The Poem's Structure
"He That Loves A Rosy Cheek" is a Shakespearean sonnet, which means that it consists of 14 lines, divided into three quatrains (four-line stanzas) and a final couplet (two-line stanza). The rhyme scheme of the poem is ababcdcdefefgg, which follows the traditional pattern of the Shakespearean sonnet. The form of the sonnet, with its tight structure and strict rhyme scheme, reflects the formalism and constraint of early modern courtly love poetry, which emphasized the importance of wit, rhetoric, and convention.
However, the poem also subverts some of the conventions of the sonnet form by using enjambment (the continuation of a sentence or phrase over a line break) and irregular meter. For example, the first two lines of the poem are run-on lines, as the phrase "He that loves a rosy cheek" spills over into the second line without a pause. This creates a sense of fluidity and continuity that contrasts with the rigid structure of the sonnet. Similarly, the meter of the poem is not strictly iambic pentameter (the standard meter of the sonnet form), but varies in stress and rhythm, which adds to the poem's musicality and expressiveness.
The Poem's Language
The language of "He That Loves A Rosy Cheek" is characterized by its sensuality, imagery, and metaphorical richness. The poem is full of vivid and striking images that appeal to the senses and evoke a mood of passion and desire. For example, the speaker describes his beloved's "rosy cheeks" as "lilies in a bed of roses," which suggests both her beauty and her rarity. He also compares her hair to "Jet," a precious and valuable material, and her breath to "Arabia's perfumes," which implies that she is exotic and intoxicating.
The poem also uses metaphorical language to convey its themes and emotions. For example, the phrase "rosy cheek" is a metaphor for beauty and youth, while the words "ivory" and "Jet" are metaphors for purity and value, respectively. The phrase "high-built" is a metaphor for social status and superiority, while the word "proud" is a metaphor for dignity and self-respect. These metaphors not only add to the poem's aesthetic appeal but also deepen its meaning and significance.
The Poem's Historical Context
"He That Loves A Rosy Cheek" was written in the early seventeenth century, a time when courtly love poetry was in vogue among the upper classes of English society. This poetry, which was inspired by the troubadour tradition of medieval France, celebrated the virtues of chivalry, romance, and idealized love. The sonnet form, which had been popularized by Petrarch in Italy, was also widely used by English poets to express their amorous sentiments.
However, courtly love poetry was not without its contradictions and controversies. While it celebrated the beauty and grace of women, it also objectified and commodified them, reducing them to passive objects of male desire. It also reinforced gender and class hierarchies, as it idealized the love between a nobleman and a woman of higher social status. Thus, "He That Loves A Rosy Cheek" can be seen as both an example and a critique of courtly love poetry, as it embodies its conventions while also questioning its assumptions and limitations.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "He That Loves A Rosy Cheek" by Thomas Carew is a classic sonnet that celebrates the beauty and desirability of a woman with a rosy complexion. The poem's themes of desire, beauty, and idealization are conveyed through its sensuous imagery, metaphorical language, and formal structure. However, the poem also acknowledges the impermanence and distance of love, and raises questions about the objectification and idealization of women in courtly love poetry. Thus, the poem can be seen as a complex and nuanced expression of early modern love poetry, that both conforms to and challenges its conventions and assumptions.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
He That Loves A Rosy Cheek: A Timeless Ode to Beauty and Love
Thomas Carew's poem "He That Loves A Rosy Cheek" is a timeless ode to beauty and love. Written in the 17th century, the poem captures the essence of the era's fascination with physical beauty and the power of love. The poem's language is rich and evocative, painting vivid images of the beauty of a rosy cheek and the passion it inspires. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, language, and structure of the poem, and examine how they contribute to its enduring appeal.
Themes
The poem's central theme is the power of physical beauty to inspire love and desire. The opening lines set the tone for the poem, with the speaker declaring that "he that loves a rosy cheek, / Or a coral lip admires" is "sure a fool" if he does not pursue the object of his desire. The poem celebrates the beauty of youth and the fleeting nature of physical perfection, urging the reader to seize the moment and embrace love while it lasts.
The poem also touches on the theme of mortality, with the speaker acknowledging that "beauty, like a shadow, flies" and that "all things are subject to decay." This acknowledgement of the transience of beauty adds a bittersweet note to the poem, underscoring the urgency of the speaker's call to action.
Language
The language of the poem is rich and evocative, with vivid imagery that brings the beauty of a rosy cheek to life. The use of color imagery is particularly effective, with the rosy cheek described as "blushing red" and "vermeil-tinctured." The use of the word "vermeil" is particularly striking, as it is a rare and archaic term that adds a sense of timelessness to the poem.
The poem also makes use of metaphor and personification to convey its themes. The beauty of the rosy cheek is compared to the "morning's dawn" and the "sunshine in a shady place," while the fleeting nature of beauty is personified as a "shadow" that "flies." These metaphors and personifications add depth and complexity to the poem, elevating it beyond a simple celebration of physical beauty.
Structure
The poem is structured as a series of rhyming couplets, with each couplet expressing a complete thought or image. This structure gives the poem a sense of rhythm and momentum, propelling the reader forward through the speaker's passionate plea for love. The use of enjambment, where a sentence or phrase runs over into the next line without a pause, adds to the poem's sense of urgency and immediacy.
The poem's structure also contributes to its timeless appeal. The use of rhyming couplets and a regular meter gives the poem a musical quality that is pleasing to the ear, while the brevity of each couplet makes the poem easy to remember and recite. These qualities have helped to ensure that the poem has remained popular and widely read for centuries.
Conclusion
"He That Loves A Rosy Cheek" is a timeless ode to beauty and love that has captivated readers for centuries. The poem's themes of physical beauty, love, and mortality are conveyed through rich and evocative language, while its structure gives it a sense of rhythm and momentum. The poem's enduring appeal is a testament to its power to capture the essence of human experience and emotion, and to speak to readers across time and culture.
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