'Love 's Vicissitudes' by Robert Louis Stevenson


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AS Love and Hope together
Walk by me for a while,
Link-armed the ways they travel
For many a pleasant mile -
Link-armed and dumb they travel,
They sing not, but they smile.

Hope leaving, Love commences
To practise on the lute;
And as he sings and travels
With lingering, laggard foot,
Despair plays obligato
The sentimental flute.

Until in singing garments
Comes royally, at call -
Comes limber-hipped Indiff'rence
Free stepping, straight and tall -
Comes singing and lamenting,
The sweetest pipe of all.


Editor 1 Interpretation

An Ode to the Complexities of Love: A Literary Criticism of Robert Louis Stevenson's "Love's Vicissitudes"

Oh, love. It's a complex emotion that has been written about for centuries, and Robert Louis Stevenson's "Love's Vicissitudes" is no exception. In this poem, Stevenson explores the multifaceted nature of love, from its highs to its lows and everything in between. With exquisite use of language and vivid imagery, Stevenson paints a picture of the emotional journey that love can take us on.

The Structure of the Poem

Before we dive into the heart of the poem, it's important to take a look at its structure. "Love's Vicissitudes" is a sonnet, a traditional form of poetry that consists of 14 lines. The poem is divided into two quatrains (four-line stanzas) and a sestet (six-line stanza). The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, which means that the first and third lines of each quatrain rhyme, as do the second and fourth lines. The sestet follows a slightly different rhyme scheme: EEE FGG FGG.

What's interesting about the structure of this poem is that it mirrors the journey of love that Stevenson is describing. The first quatrain sets the scene, introducing us to the idea that love is a journey with ups and downs. The second quatrain delves deeper into the complexities of love, exploring the different emotions that come with it. Finally, the sestet brings the poem to a satisfying conclusion, suggesting that despite the vicissitudes of love, it's a journey worth taking.

The Language of Love

Of course, what really makes this poem stand out is Stevenson's use of language. He employs a range of literary techniques to bring the emotions of love to life. For example, he uses metaphor to describe love as a "wayward sail" that is at the mercy of the winds. This metaphor suggests that love can be unpredictable and uncontrollable, much like a sailboat on the open sea.

Stevenson also uses alliteration to great effect, drawing attention to certain words and creating a musical quality to the poem. In the first quatrain, he writes: "Love comes, a fragrant courier from hell" - the repetition of the "c" sound in "comes" and "courier" creates a sense of momentum, as if love is racing towards us. Later in the poem, he uses alliteration again to describe love as a "bright bird" that "flits" and "flees" - the repetition of the "f" sound evokes the fluttering of wings.

In addition, Stevenson makes liberal use of imagery to bring his ideas to life. For example, he describes the "crimson poppy" of love, suggesting that love is both beautiful and dangerous. He also uses imagery to describe the different stages of love, such as when he writes that love "scarcely lingers" in its infancy, but "lingers long" in its maturity. These images give us a sense of the ebb and flow of love, as it changes and evolves over time.

The Complexity of Love

What I find most striking about "Love's Vicissitudes" is how well it captures the complexity of love. Stevenson doesn't shy away from the darker side of love, acknowledging that it can be painful and difficult. He writes that love "blights with barren sorrow" and "brings a thousand woes." These lines suggest that love is not always easy, and that it can bring with it a lot of pain and heartbreak.

At the same time, however, Stevenson also celebrates the joys of love. He describes love as a "glorious sun" that can "fill the heart with light." He writes that love can "light the darkest ways," suggesting that it has the power to bring hope and happiness even in the bleakest of circumstances. This duality is what makes "Love's Vicissitudes" such a powerful poem - it acknowledges the complexity of love, but ultimately suggests that it's worth it.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Robert Louis Stevenson's "Love's Vicissitudes" is a beautiful and complex poem that explores the emotional journey of love. Through his use of language, Stevenson brings the ideas to life, painting a vivid picture of the different stages of love and the emotions that come with them. Although the poem acknowledges that love can be painful and difficult, it ultimately celebrates the joy and hope that love can bring. For anyone who has ever been in love (or who hopes to be), "Love's Vicissitudes" is a must-read.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry Love's Vicissitudes: A Masterpiece by Robert Louis Stevenson

Love is a complex emotion that has been explored in literature for centuries. From Shakespeare's sonnets to modern-day poetry, love has been a recurring theme that has captured the hearts of readers. One such masterpiece that explores the vicissitudes of love is Robert Louis Stevenson's poem, Love's Vicissitudes.

Love's Vicissitudes is a poem that explores the different stages of love and how it can change over time. The poem is divided into four stanzas, each of which explores a different aspect of love. The first stanza explores the initial stages of love, where everything is new and exciting. The second stanza explores the challenges that come with love, such as jealousy and insecurity. The third stanza explores the pain of lost love, while the fourth stanza explores the hope of finding love again.

The poem begins with the line, "As Love's own face, through mist and tears, we peer distantly forth." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as it suggests that love is something that is not always clear and can be obscured by emotions such as mist and tears. The first stanza explores the initial stages of love, where everything is new and exciting. The stanza begins with the line, "Love in her sunny eyes does bask." This line suggests that love is something that brings warmth and light into our lives. The stanza goes on to describe the feeling of being in love, with lines such as "The world is fair, the world is wide, and all the birds are singing."

The second stanza explores the challenges that come with love. The stanza begins with the line, "But soon the sky with clouds is spread." This line suggests that love is not always easy and can be clouded by emotions such as jealousy and insecurity. The stanza goes on to describe the pain of feeling jealous and insecure, with lines such as "And every breeze that wanders by, bears some new perfume from her way." This line suggests that the person in the poem is constantly reminded of their lover, which can be both a blessing and a curse.

The third stanza explores the pain of lost love. The stanza begins with the line, "But ah! The night is dark and drear." This line suggests that the person in the poem has lost their lover and is now experiencing the pain of heartbreak. The stanza goes on to describe the feeling of being alone and lost, with lines such as "And all the world is cold and dead, and all the stars are fled." This line suggests that the person in the poem feels as though they have lost everything and that there is no hope for the future.

The fourth stanza explores the hope of finding love again. The stanza begins with the line, "But hark! A voice, a heavenly voice." This line suggests that the person in the poem has heard a voice that gives them hope for the future. The stanza goes on to describe the feeling of hope and the possibility of finding love again, with lines such as "And hope, like some sweet bird, doth sing, within my heart a new-born thing." This line suggests that the person in the poem has found hope and that they believe that they will find love again.

Overall, Love's Vicissitudes is a masterpiece that explores the different stages of love and how it can change over time. The poem is beautifully written and captures the emotions of love in a way that is both relatable and timeless. The poem is a reminder that love is not always easy, but that it is worth the pain and the challenges that come with it. Love's Vicissitudes is a must-read for anyone who has ever been in love or who is currently experiencing the ups and downs of love.

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