'Incurable' by Dorothy Parker
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And if my heart be scarred and burned,
The safer, I, for all I learned;
The calmer, I, to see it true
That ways of love are never new-
The love that sets you daft and dazed
Is every love that ever blazed;
The happier, I, to fathom this:
A kiss is every other kiss.
The reckless vow, the lovely name,
When Helen walked, were spoke the same;
The weighted breast, the grinding woe,
When Phaon fled, were ever so.
Oh, it is sure as it is sad
That any lad is every lad,
And what's a girl, to dare implore
Her dear be hers forevermore?
Though he be tried and he be bold,
And swearing death should he be cold,
He'll run the path the others went....
But you, my sweet, are different.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Incurable: A Deep Dive into Dorothy Parker’s Poem
Are you a fan of Dorothy Parker’s writings? If not, you should be. Parker was a master of the short story and the poetry form, and her works often reflected her own personal struggles and experiences in life. One of her most famous poems is “Incurable”, which delves into themes of love, loss, and the emptiness that can come from an unfulfilling relationship. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we’ll explore the layers of meaning behind Parker’s words and the impact this poem has had on readers over the years.
Context
Before we dive into the poem itself, it’s important to understand the context in which it was written. “Incurable” was first published in Parker’s 1926 collection of poetry, Sunset Gun. At the time, Parker was in her mid-thirties and had already established herself as a successful writer and member of the Algonquin Round Table, a group of writers and intellectuals who regularly met for lunch at the Algonquin Hotel in New York City. However, Parker’s personal life was not as rosy as her professional one. She had recently divorced her first husband, Edwin Pond Parker II, and was in the midst of a tumultuous affair with the writer Charles MacArthur.
Given this context, it’s easy to see how “Incurable” could be read as a reflection of Parker’s own experiences with love and relationships. The poem is written in the first person, suggesting a personal connection to the words being spoken. Additionally, the themes of love and loss are prominent throughout the piece, which could speak to Parker’s recent divorce and her ongoing affair.
Analysis
With that context in mind, let’s take a closer look at “Incurable” itself. The poem is only eight lines long, but each line is packed with rich imagery and evocative language. Here’s the full text:
Love, that is day and night –
love, that is sun and moon and stars,
Love, that is crimson, sumptuous, sick with perfume,
no other words but words of love,
no other thought but love.
Love, that is fierce and jealous,
possessive and consuming,
wholly, utterly incurable.
Right away, the poem establishes its central theme: love. The repetition of the word “love” throughout the first five lines creates a sense of urgency and intensity, as if the speaker cannot think of anything else but this overwhelming emotion. The use of vivid imagery – “crimson”, “sumptuous”, “sick with perfume” – adds to this sense of sensory overload, as if the very idea of love is overwhelming to the speaker.
However, the tone shifts in the final three lines. The adjectives used to describe love become darker and more possessive: “fierce”, “jealous”, “possessive”, “consuming”. The final line, “wholly, utterly incurable”, takes on a different meaning in this context. Instead of suggesting the strength and permanence of love, it reads more like a warning – that love is a disease, something that cannot be cured or escaped.
This interpretation is further supported by the poem’s structure. Each line is short and staccato, with no clear meter or rhyme scheme. This creates a sense of urgency and immediacy, as if the speaker is trying to get these words out as quickly as possible. Additionally, the lack of formality in the structure could suggest a lack of control on the part of the speaker – that they are being overwhelmed by their emotions and cannot contain them.
Overall, “Incurable” is a powerful and evocative poem that speaks to the complicated nature of love and relationships. It suggests that love can be both beautiful and dangerous, overwhelming and consuming. By using vivid imagery and a shifting tone, Parker captures the complexity of this emotion and its impact on those who experience it.
Interpretation
Of course, there are many ways to interpret a poem like “Incurable”. Here are a few possible approaches:
A Warning Against Love
One interpretation of “Incurable” is that it is a cautionary tale about the dangers of love. The final line, “wholly, utterly incurable”, suggests that love is something to be feared and avoided. The darker, possessive language used in the final three lines supports this interpretation, as does the lack of formality in the poem’s structure. In this reading, the poem could be seen as a reflection of Parker’s own experiences with love and her desire to warn others against making the same mistakes she did.
A Celebration of Love
On the other hand, one could argue that “Incurable” is actually a celebration of love, despite its darker overtones. The repeated use of the word “love” throughout the first five lines suggests a deep and abiding affection for this emotion. The use of vivid imagery and sensual language could be seen as a celebration of the pleasures of love. In this reading, the darker language in the final three lines could be interpreted as a recognition of the risks that come with love, but not necessarily a condemnation of the emotion itself.
A Reflection of Parker’s Personal Life
Given the context in which “Incurable” was written, it’s impossible not to read the poem as at least partially autobiographical. Parker was going through a difficult time in her personal life, and the themes of love and loss in the poem could be seen as a reflection of her own experiences. In this reading, the poem is less a cautionary tale or a celebration of love and more an exploration of Parker’s own emotional landscape. The lack of formal structure and the urgency of the language could be interpreted as a reflection of Parker’s own emotional turmoil.
Conclusion
“Incurable” is a complex and evocative poem that speaks to the power and danger of love. Through vivid imagery and shifting tones, Parker captures the many facets of this complicated emotion. Whether seen as a warning against love, a celebration of it, or a reflection of Parker’s own experiences, there is no denying the impact this poem has had on readers over the years.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Incurable: A Poem of Love and Loss
Dorothy Parker was a master of wit and satire, known for her sharp tongue and biting humor. But in her poem "Incurable," she reveals a more vulnerable side, exploring the pain and longing of unrequited love.
The poem begins with a simple declaration: "I know that you're not mine." This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is filled with a sense of resignation and acceptance. The speaker knows that the object of her affection is not hers to have, and yet she cannot help but feel the pull of her emotions.
The second stanza reveals the depth of the speaker's feelings, as she describes the "aching heart" that she carries with her. She longs for the love that she cannot have, and yet she cannot let go of her desire. The repetition of the word "still" emphasizes the persistence of her feelings, despite the knowledge that they will never be reciprocated.
The third stanza introduces a new element to the poem, as the speaker describes the physical pain that she experiences as a result of her unrequited love. She feels as though her heart is "bruised and broken," and the imagery of the "wounded bird" emphasizes her vulnerability and fragility. The use of the word "incurable" in the title of the poem takes on new meaning here, as the speaker suggests that her love is a sickness that cannot be cured.
The fourth stanza is perhaps the most poignant of the poem, as the speaker imagines a world in which her love is returned. She describes a scene in which she and her beloved are together, "hand in hand," and the repetition of the word "happy" emphasizes the joy that she feels in this fantasy. But even as she imagines this perfect world, she knows that it is not real, and that her love will never be returned.
The final stanza brings the poem full circle, as the speaker returns to the simple declaration of the first line. She knows that her love is not reciprocated, and yet she cannot help but feel it. The repetition of the phrase "I know" emphasizes the speaker's acceptance of her situation, even as she continues to long for something that she cannot have.
Overall, "Incurable" is a powerful exploration of the pain and longing of unrequited love. Through her use of vivid imagery and repetition, Parker captures the depth of the speaker's emotions, and the sense of resignation that comes with the knowledge that her love will never be returned. The poem is a testament to the power of love, even in the face of rejection and heartbreak, and a reminder that sometimes the most powerful emotions are the ones that we cannot control.
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