'Sonnet (Women Have Loved Before As I Love Now)' by Edna St. Vincent Millay
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Women have loved before as I love now;
At least, in lively chronicles of the past—
Of Irish waters by a Cornish prow
Or Trojan waters by a Spartan mast
Much to their cost invaded—here and there,
Hunting the amorous line, skimming the rest,
I find some woman bearing as I bear
Love like a burning city in the breast.
I think however that of all alive
I only in such utter, ancient way
Do suffer love; in me alone survive
The unregenerate passions of a day
When treacherous queens, with death upon the tread,
Heedless and willful, took their knights to bed.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Sonnet (Women Have Loved Before As I Love Now) by Edna St. Vincent Millay
Have you ever experienced the overwhelming feeling of new love and wondered if it's truly unique or if others have loved this passionately before? Edna St. Vincent Millay's sonnet, "Women Have Loved Before As I Love Now," delves into this very question with raw emotion and stunning imagery.
Context
Millay was a prominent poet in the early 20th century and was known for her unconventional lifestyle and feminist beliefs. Her work often explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition, and "Women Have Loved Before As I Love Now" is no exception. Sonnets were a popular form of poetry during the time, and Millay's version combines traditional elements of the form with her own unique voice and perspective.
Analysis
The sonnet opens with a powerful declaration: "Women have loved before as I love now." This statement sets the tone for the rest of the poem and immediately makes the reader question what makes this particular love so special. Millay goes on to describe the intensity of her feelings, using vivid images to create a sense of urgency and passion:
"I cannot tell the bird upon the bough Sings of my love aloud, night after night—"
Here, the bird serves as a symbol of the natural world and the constant presence of love in the speaker's life. The repeated phrase "night after night" emphasizes the all-consuming nature of this love and suggests that it's not just a passing infatuation.
The second quatrain continues to explore the speaker's emotions, focusing on the physical sensations of love:
"Since I have seen your face I have no peace, Such passion floods me that I am accursed Beneath its weight; but in your dear, dear sight"
The use of the word "accursed" adds a note of dramatic intensity to the poem, and the contrast between the speaker's lack of peace and their obsession with the beloved creates a sense of emotional turmoil. The final line of the quatrain, which states that the speaker finds solace in their lover's sight, suggests that this love is also a source of comfort and safety.
The third quatrain shifts focus to the speaker's doubts and fears about the relationship:
"I read vulnerability in your eyes, Perhaps you will betray me."
The use of the word "vulnerability" suggests that the speaker sees their lover as someone who is capable of being hurt, and this realization fills them with anxiety. The fear of betrayal is a common theme in love poetry, but Millay's version feels particularly poignant because of the vulnerability and honesty in the speaker's voice.
The final couplet brings the poem to a close with a sense of acceptance:
"But for the love of you, beloved, I am bold, And so I speak the truth and nothing else."
Here, the speaker acknowledges that their love has given them the courage to be honest and vulnerable, even in the face of fear and uncertainty. The use of the word "beloved" is particularly significant, as it suggests that the speaker has found a deep sense of connection and intimacy with their lover.
Interpretation
"Women Have Loved Before As I Love Now" is a poem that speaks to the universal experience of falling in love. The idea that others have loved just as passionately as we do is both comforting and humbling, reminding us that love is a force that transcends time and place.
At the same time, Millay's poem is also deeply personal, capturing the intense emotions and fears that come with falling in love. The speaker's vulnerability and honesty make them relatable, and their journey from passion to fear to acceptance is one that many readers will recognize.
The poem's focus on the physical sensations of love is also worth noting, as it adds a sensual element to the work that is often absent in traditional sonnets. Millay's use of imagery and language is both beautiful and evocative, and it's easy to get swept up in the intensity of the speaker's emotions.
Overall, "Women Have Loved Before As I Love Now" is a powerful and moving exploration of love, vulnerability, and the human experience. Millay's skillful use of language and imagery makes this sonnet a timeless work of art that still resonates with readers today.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Sonnet (Women Have Loved Before As I Love Now) by Edna St. Vincent Millay is a classic poem that captures the essence of love and the emotions that come with it. This sonnet is a beautiful expression of the intensity of love and the way it can consume a person's thoughts and feelings. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and language used in the poem to understand its deeper meaning.
The poem begins with the speaker acknowledging that women have loved before her and that her love is not unique. She says, "Women have loved before as I love now; / At least, in lively chronicles of the past—". This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a reflection on the universality of love. The speaker is not claiming to be the first person to experience love, but rather she is expressing her own personal experience of it.
The first quatrain of the poem describes the speaker's feelings of love. She says, "They were proud and strong, the queens who loved of old; / The queens of might have had their will of me, / And yet they chose me, me, to hear their story told, / To lover me for themselves and not for pity." The speaker is comparing herself to the queens of old who were also in love. She acknowledges that these women were powerful and could have had anyone they wanted, but they chose her to hear their stories. This shows that the speaker feels honored to be loved and chosen by someone she admires.
The second quatrain of the poem describes the intensity of the speaker's love. She says, "And so I am beloved of them, and they / Of me,—the thronged and the storied past. / I am the one who loves her; I am the one, / Whose love is changed, by loves all gone before." The speaker is saying that she loves the women of the past, and they love her in return. She feels a connection to them through their shared experience of love. The last line of this quatrain is particularly powerful because it shows that the speaker's love has been changed by the love of those who came before her. This suggests that love is not a static emotion but is constantly evolving and changing.
The third quatrain of the poem describes the speaker's fear of losing her love. She says, "Paler than failure on the painted wall, / The star-born shadows round my lover's head / Are filleted: his eyes look far and cold, / Sad and unlovable his mouth, that was so red." The speaker is describing her lover as being distant and unapproachable. She is afraid that he no longer loves her and that their relationship is in danger. The use of the word "paler" suggests that the speaker's fear is causing her to lose her own vitality and energy.
The final couplet of the poem is a powerful statement of the speaker's love. She says, "And I am made a by-word of the sea, / A mere emotion of the spirit, spent." The speaker is saying that her love is so intense that it has become a by-word of the sea, which suggests that it is a universal emotion that is felt by all. The use of the word "spent" suggests that the speaker's love has consumed her and that she has given everything to it.
The structure of the poem is a traditional Shakespearean sonnet, with three quatrains and a final couplet. The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, which gives the poem a sense of order and symmetry. The use of iambic pentameter also adds to the poem's sense of rhythm and structure.
The language used in the poem is rich and evocative. The use of words like "storied," "throngs," and "filleted" give the poem a sense of history and depth. The use of metaphors, such as "star-born shadows," "painted wall," and "by-word of the sea," add to the poem's sense of imagery and emotion. The language used in the poem is also very musical, with a sense of rhythm and melody that adds to its beauty.
In conclusion, Sonnet (Women Have Loved Before As I Love Now) by Edna St. Vincent Millay is a beautiful expression of the intensity of love and the way it can consume a person's thoughts and feelings. The poem explores the themes of love, history, and fear, and uses a traditional Shakespearean sonnet structure and rich language to convey its message. This poem is a timeless classic that captures the essence of love and the emotions that come with it.
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