Compare and contrast how Rossetti shows her views on death and the after life in the poems, 'Song' and 'Remember'.
Both poems, 'Song' and 'Remember' are themed around the prospect of death and how the speaker wants their loved ones to manage their death once the speaker has passed. This gives us an in-sight to Rossetti's views and opinions on death and the afterlife.
Both poems, 'Song' and 'Remember' are themed around the prospect of death and how the speaker wants their loved ones to manage their death once the speaker has passed. This gives us an in-sight to Rossetti's views and opinions on death and the afterlife.
Firstly, the poem 'Song' suggests a more naturalist theme toward death and the after life with the reference to a 'nightingale' which is a link towards Rossetti's poetic influence; Keats. A nightingale is a symbol of beauty, immortality and freedom from the worlds troubles, this is a further illustration of death being close to nature and for the speaker, being an escape from the troubles in their life. Also, it could give the impression that there is no afterlife, through nature, you can never really die but solely exist through the beauty of nature and therefore be immortal. This theme of a naturalist death is further illustrated through the referral to 'grass' in the first stanza; 'Be the green grass above me.' This line infers that the speaker desires to be close to their lover through nature. Therefore this could be a representation on Rossetti's perspective of death as being linked to nature and that even though you can be physically dead, through nature you can still live on. Rossetti explains this further in the poem when she writes, 'And dreaming through the twilght.' This explores the question of after life that Rossetti poses being that the 'twilight' is the limbo of life between heaven and hell. Therefore expressing her thoughts on life and death. It is interesting that Rossetti gives the impression of her belief in immortality and a world of liminality as she expresses a very religious belief or mindset in her other poems. She was remembered as a very religious woman, however, this poem questions that as Catholisism didnt have the belief of a limbo world. This doubt in religion was a popular belief in the time of Keats (The Romantic period) who was a role model of Rossetti's. Yet again, Rossetti is very contradictive of herself and her beliefs. For example, she is an icon for femanism but however, she published some of her poems under a male name.
However, the poem 'Remember' doesnt follow a naturalistic theme but explores femininity and power through death.The speaker of the poem seems to be finding her voice and power through each verse of this sonnet but through this array of femininity we frequently remeber that the speakers authority is only obtainable through death. This is illustrated firstly with the title of the poem; 'Remember'. This short statement suggests a demanding but assertive tone in which is ordering the speakers loved one to remember. Through this very line, Christina challenges the norms of the Victorian patriarchal society. In which the women would be seen and not heard and made to be infantalised towards men and most importantly, their husbands. The way in which the poem is structured through iambic pentamenter further suggests an authoritative tone towards the male loved one but this power is only given through death. However in the seventh line, the iambic pentamenter structure is broken with the use of a ceasura but this empashises the demand of the speaker; 'Only remember me; you understand'. Yet again. Rossetti pushes the boundaries of Victorian society by speaking out and expressing her needs and desires demandingly. The words 'you understand' suggest a change in roles in which the speaker is making the loved on infantalised by speaking to them condesendingly. This also ephasises the power and authority of the feminine speaker through death; in which is the only way of escaping an infantlie and powerless future and finding peace within. Rossetti, known for her feminist beliefs, could be using this poem as a way of speaking out and protesting against partiarchal expectations of the Victorian society but yet again remains not too controversial by desguising these beliefs through the theme of death.
Overall, both poems follow similar structures with the use of iambic pentameter and other poetic thechniques. However, the poem 'Song' uses nature and religion to express her beliefs of death yet in 'Remeber', Rossetti questions Victorian expectations through the key theme of death.
However, the poem 'Remember' doesnt follow a naturalistic theme but explores femininity and power through death.The speaker of the poem seems to be finding her voice and power through each verse of this sonnet but through this array of femininity we frequently remeber that the speakers authority is only obtainable through death. This is illustrated firstly with the title of the poem; 'Remember'. This short statement suggests a demanding but assertive tone in which is ordering the speakers loved one to remember. Through this very line, Christina challenges the norms of the Victorian patriarchal society. In which the women would be seen and not heard and made to be infantalised towards men and most importantly, their husbands. The way in which the poem is structured through iambic pentamenter further suggests an authoritative tone towards the male loved one but this power is only given through death. However in the seventh line, the iambic pentamenter structure is broken with the use of a ceasura but this empashises the demand of the speaker; 'Only remember me; you understand'. Yet again. Rossetti pushes the boundaries of Victorian society by speaking out and expressing her needs and desires demandingly. The words 'you understand' suggest a change in roles in which the speaker is making the loved on infantalised by speaking to them condesendingly. This also ephasises the power and authority of the feminine speaker through death; in which is the only way of escaping an infantlie and powerless future and finding peace within. Rossetti, known for her feminist beliefs, could be using this poem as a way of speaking out and protesting against partiarchal expectations of the Victorian society but yet again remains not too controversial by desguising these beliefs through the theme of death.
Overall, both poems follow similar structures with the use of iambic pentameter and other poetic thechniques. However, the poem 'Song' uses nature and religion to express her beliefs of death yet in 'Remeber', Rossetti questions Victorian expectations through the key theme of death.
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