'XXXVI Life-In-Love' by Dante Gabriel Rossetti


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Not in thy body is thy life at all
But in this lady's lips and hands and eyes;
Through these she yields thee life that vivifies
What else were sorrow's servant and death's thrall.
Look on thyself without her, and recall
The waste remembrance and forlorn surmise
That liv'd but in a dead-drawn breath of sighs
O'er vanish'd hours and hours eventual.

Even so much life hath the poor tress of hair
Which, stor'd apart, is all love hath to show
For heart-beats and for fire-heats long ago;
Even so much life endures unknown, even where,
'Mid change the changeless night environeth,
Lies all that golden hair undimm'd in death.


Editor 1 Interpretation

Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s “Life-In-Love”: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

Have you ever been in love? Have you ever felt that overwhelming passion that takes over your body and soul? Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s “Life-In-Love” explores the depth and intensity of love through the eyes of the speaker, who is so consumed by his affection that he is willing to die for his beloved.

Written in 1870, “Life-In-Love” is a sonnet that follows the Petrarchan form, with an octet and a sestet, and a rhyme scheme of ABBA ABBA CDCDCD. The poem is divided into two parts, with the octet posing a question and the sestet answering it.

The poem begins with the speaker asking, “Not in thy body is thy life at all/But in this lady’s lips and hands and eyes.” The speaker is suggesting that his beloved’s essence is not physical but rather exists in the way she expresses herself through her bodily features. It is not her body that he loves but rather the way she uses it to communicate her emotions.

The octet continues to describe the speaker’s infatuation with his beloved, highlighting his desire to be consumed by her love. He writes, “I have given thee my soul; leave me my name.” The speaker is willing to sacrifice everything, even his identity, for the sake of his love. His devotion is all-consuming, and he is unable to separate himself from his emotions.

The sestet of the poem provides the answer to the question posed in the octet. The speaker writes, “But let me have thy voice and hand alway/And live for love of thee, and die, and kill.” The speaker is willing to live and die for his love, but he also acknowledges that his passion is dangerous. He is willing to “kill” for his love, which suggests a potential for violence.

Rossetti’s use of language in the poem is incredibly sensual, with vivid descriptions of his beloved’s lips, hands, and eyes. The speaker’s emotions are so intense that they are palpable, and the reader can almost feel the depth of his love. Rossetti’s use of enjambment throughout the poem creates a sense of urgency and passion, as the lines flow seamlessly into one another.

The theme of sacrifice is prevalent throughout the poem, with the speaker willing to give up everything for the sake of his love. This theme is also reflected in the structure of the sonnet, with the octet and sestet representing the speaker’s desire and sacrifice, respectively. The poem can be seen as a commentary on the nature of love and the sacrifices that come with it.

Rossetti’s “Life-In-Love” is a beautiful and poignant exploration of love, passion, and sacrifice. The language and structure of the poem work together to create a sense of urgency and intensity, and the theme of sacrifice adds depth and meaning to the work. The poem is a testament to the power of love and the lengths that people will go to in order to express it.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Dante Gabriel Rossetti's "Life-In-Love" is a classic poem that captures the essence of love and its impact on human life. The poem is a beautiful representation of the power of love and how it can transform an individual's life. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, literary devices, and the overall meaning of the poem.

The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with a different focus. The first stanza sets the tone for the poem and introduces the central theme of love. Rossetti describes love as a force that can change a person's life completely. He uses the metaphor of a "wind" to describe the power of love, saying that it can "blow out a life, bright as a flame." This metaphor is powerful because it suggests that love can be both destructive and transformative.

The second stanza focuses on the speaker's personal experience with love. He describes how love has changed his life and how he now sees the world differently. He says that love has given him a new perspective on life and that he now sees beauty in everything around him. This is evident in the lines, "And all my days are trances, / And all my nightly dreams / Are where thy grey eye glances, / And where thy footstep gleams." The speaker is so consumed by love that it has become the center of his world.

The third stanza is a reflection on the nature of love itself. Rossetti suggests that love is not something that can be controlled or contained. It is a force that is beyond human understanding and can only be experienced. He says that love is like a "sea" that cannot be tamed, and that those who try to control it will ultimately fail. This is evident in the lines, "Love, that is singing over the world, / And joy that is in the world's heart, / And in the world's heart at war."

One of the most striking aspects of the poem is Rossetti's use of literary devices. He employs a range of techniques to convey the power of love, including metaphors, imagery, and repetition. The metaphor of the wind is particularly effective, as it suggests that love is a force that can be both destructive and transformative. The repetition of the word "love" throughout the poem also emphasizes its importance and power.

Another literary device that Rossetti uses is imagery. He uses vivid descriptions to create a sense of the speaker's world and the impact that love has had on it. For example, he describes the speaker's dreams as being "where thy grey eye glances, / And where thy footstep gleams." This creates a vivid picture of the speaker's world, which is now centered around the object of his love.

The poem also has a strong emotional impact on the reader. Rossetti's use of language and imagery creates a sense of longing and desire that is palpable. The speaker's love is so intense that it is almost overwhelming, and the reader is drawn into his world. This is particularly evident in the lines, "And all my days are trances, / And all my nightly dreams / Are where thy grey eye glances, / And where thy footstep gleams." The repetition of "all" emphasizes the all-consuming nature of the speaker's love.

In terms of the poem's overall meaning, Rossetti is exploring the transformative power of love. He suggests that love can change a person's life completely, and that it is a force that cannot be controlled or contained. The poem is also a celebration of the beauty of love and the joy that it can bring. This is evident in the lines, "Love, that is singing over the world, / And joy that is in the world's heart, / And in the world's heart at war." Rossetti is suggesting that love is a universal force that can bring joy even in times of conflict and strife.

In conclusion, Dante Gabriel Rossetti's "Life-In-Love" is a beautiful poem that captures the transformative power of love. Through his use of literary devices and vivid imagery, Rossetti creates a sense of longing and desire that is palpable. The poem is a celebration of the beauty of love and the joy that it can bring, and it is a reminder that love is a force that cannot be controlled or contained.

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