'Song from The Silent Woman' by Ben Jonson


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Still to be neat, still to be dressed,
As you were going to a feast;
Still to be powdered, still perfumed:
Lady, it is to be presumed,
Though art's hid causes are not found,
All is not sweet, all is not sound.

Give me a look, give me a face,
That makes simplicity a grace;
Robes loosely flowing, hair as free;
Such sweet neglect more taketh me
Than all th' adulteries of art:
They strike mine eyes, but not my heart.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Song from The Silent Woman: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

Have you ever come across a poem that is so well-crafted, so beautifully written, that it speaks to your soul? That is the feeling one gets when reading the Song from The Silent Woman. Written by the renowned playwright and poet Ben Jonson, this poem is a masterpiece of English literature. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes, structure, language, and style of this classic piece of poetry.

Background

Before we delve into the poem, let us first understand the context in which it was written. The Silent Woman is a play written by Ben Jonson in 1609. The play is a satire on the courtship of a wealthy merchant, Morose, who wants a silent wife. The play is set in Jacobean England, a time of great social and political upheaval. The country was still recovering from the Tudor era, and the new king, James I, had just ascended the throne. The Silent Woman was written during this time, and it reflects the social norms, values, and beliefs of the period.

The Song from The Silent Woman is a song sung by one of the characters in the play. It is a love song, and it is one of the most famous pieces of poetry written by Ben Jonson. The song is sung by Epicœne, a woman who is pretending to be a silent woman to win the love of Morose. The song is a powerful expression of love, and it captures the essence of the play.

Themes

The Song from The Silent Woman is a love song, and its main theme is love. The poem speaks of a love that is pure and true, a love that transcends all boundaries. The speaker in the poem is expressing her love for her beloved, and she is doing so in a way that is both beautiful and powerful. The poem also speaks of the power of words, and how words can be used to express emotions and feelings in a way that is both meaningful and profound.

Another theme that runs through the Song from The Silent Woman is the theme of deception. The poem is sung by Epicœne, who is pretending to be a silent woman. She is pretending to be someone she is not, and she is doing so to win the love of Morose. The poem raises questions about the nature of deception and the lengths people will go to achieve their goals.

Structure

The Song from The Silent Woman is a sonnet. It is written in iambic pentameter, a form of poetry that was popular in Shakespearean England. The sonnet is made up of fourteen lines, and it is divided into two parts. The first part is an octave, which is made up of eight lines. The second part is a sestet, which is made up of six lines.

The octave sets up the poem and establishes the theme. In the Song from The Silent Woman, the octave sets up the theme of love. The sestet develops the theme and brings the poem to a close.

Language

The language used in the Song from The Silent Woman is beautiful and poetic. Ben Jonson was a master of language, and he used language to create a powerful and moving poem. The poem is filled with metaphors and imagery, and it is written in a way that is both beautiful and powerful.

The language used in the poem is also complex. The poem is full of words and phrases that are not commonly used in modern English. This complexity adds to the beauty of the poem, and it makes the poem more interesting to read.

Style

The style of the Song from The Silent Woman is typical of Ben Jonson. The poem is written in a formal style, and it is full of wit and humor. Ben Jonson was known for his wit, and he used it to great effect in this poem.

The poem is also full of irony. The speaker in the poem is pretending to be a silent woman, and she is doing so to win the love of Morose. This irony adds depth to the poem, and it makes it more interesting to read.

Conclusion

The Song from The Silent Woman is a masterpiece of English literature. It is a powerful expression of love, and it captures the essence of the play. The poem is beautifully written, and it is full of metaphors and imagery. Ben Jonson was a master of language, and he used language to create a powerful and moving poem.

The Song from The Silent Woman is a poem that speaks to the soul. It is a poem that captures the beauty and power of love, and it is a poem that will be remembered for generations to come.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Song from The Silent Woman: A Masterpiece of Ben Jonson

Ben Jonson, the famous English playwright, poet, and literary critic, is known for his remarkable contribution to the world of literature. His works are characterized by their wit, humor, and satire. One of his most celebrated works is the play The Silent Woman, which was first performed in 1609. The play is a comedy that satirizes the contemporary society and its values. One of the most memorable parts of the play is the Song from The Silent Woman, which is a masterpiece of Jonson's poetic genius. In this article, we will analyze and explain the Song from The Silent Woman in detail.

The Song from The Silent Woman is a lyrical poem that is sung by Morose, the main character of the play. Morose is a wealthy man who is obsessed with silence and wants to marry a woman who is completely silent. The song is sung by Morose to express his desire for a silent woman. The poem is composed of six stanzas, each consisting of four lines. The rhyme scheme of the poem is AABB, which means that the first and second lines rhyme with each other, and the third and fourth lines rhyme with each other.

The first stanza of the poem sets the tone for the rest of the poem. It begins with the line "Still to be neat, still to be dressed." The word "still" is repeated twice, which emphasizes the importance of being neat and dressed at all times. The second line, "As you were going to a feast," suggests that the woman should always be ready to attend a social event. The third and fourth lines, "Still to be powdered, still perfumed," emphasize the importance of personal grooming. The use of the word "still" in the first stanza creates a sense of repetition and routine, which is a theme that is repeated throughout the poem.

The second stanza of the poem continues the theme of personal grooming. It begins with the line "Lady, it is to be presumed." The word "presumed" suggests that the woman should always be assumed to be well-groomed. The second line, "Though art's hid causes are not found," suggests that the woman's beauty should be effortless and natural. The third and fourth lines, "All is not sweet, all is not sound," suggest that the woman should not speak or make noise, as it may ruin her appearance.

The third stanza of the poem introduces the theme of silence. It begins with the line "Give me a look, give me a face." The word "give" suggests that the woman's appearance is something that can be given or taken away. The second line, "That makes simplicity a grace," suggests that the woman's beauty should be simple and natural. The third and fourth lines, "Robes loosely flowing, hair as free," suggest that the woman should not be constrained by her clothing or hair, but should be free to move and express herself.

The fourth stanza of the poem continues the theme of silence. It begins with the line "Such sweet neglect more taketh me." The word "neglect" suggests that the woman's silence and simplicity are more attractive than anything else. The second line, "Than all th' adulteries of art," suggests that the woman's natural beauty is more attractive than anything that can be achieved through artificial means. The third and fourth lines, "They strike mine eyes, but not my heart," suggest that while other women may be visually appealing, they do not have the same emotional impact as a silent and natural woman.

The fifth stanza of the poem introduces the theme of love. It begins with the line "They make me loathe and leave the light." The word "light" suggests that the speaker is leaving behind the superficial and artificial aspects of life. The second line, "Of all the world I see or hear," suggests that the speaker is rejecting the world and its values. The third and fourth lines, "For nothing sweet to me appears," suggest that the speaker has found something more valuable than anything else in the world.

The sixth and final stanza of the poem concludes the theme of love. It begins with the line "But only you, with me, nor here." The word "only" suggests that the woman is the only thing that is valuable to the speaker. The second line, "Nor can elsewhere be found," suggests that the woman is unique and irreplaceable. The third and fourth lines, "To like of all things, like of naught," suggest that the speaker has found true love and that nothing else in the world matters.

In conclusion, the Song from The Silent Woman is a masterpiece of Ben Jonson's poetic genius. The poem is a lyrical expression of the speaker's desire for a silent and natural woman. The poem is characterized by its use of repetition, routine, and simplicity. The themes of personal grooming, silence, and love are interwoven throughout the poem. The poem is a satirical commentary on the contemporary society and its values. The Song from The Silent Woman is a timeless work of literature that continues to inspire and captivate readers to this day.

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