11.

LOVE IN BRITISH-AMERICAN LITERATURE

Intro: In the different periods of English literature people had various ideas about love and about the relationship between men and women. In the Middle Ages we talk about courtly love when women were dominant in the relationship. The Petrarchans longed for their lady who was inaccessible for them. John Donne turned against this concept and he no more suffered for his lady but he emphasized requited love. The poets of the Romantic era had various ideas about love, but it was common in them that they expressed passionate and deep feelings. The Victorian era was more prude so poets avoided expressing passionate feelings and eroticism, except Swinburne.

1) Earthy and Divine Love in Renaissance England:

a) Unrequited love: Sir Thomas Wyatt: Whoso List to Hunt
"Whoso List To Hunt" by Sir Thomas Wyatt Whoso list to hunt, I know where is an hind, But as for me, hlas, I may no more. The vain travail hath wearied me so sore, I am of them that farthest cometh behind. Yet may I by no means my wearied mind Draw from the deer, but as she fleeth afore Fainting I follow. I leave off therefore, Sithens in a net I seek to hold the wind. Who list her hunt, I put him out of doubt, As well as I may spend his time in vain. And graven with diamonds in letters plain There is written, her fair neck round about: Noli me tangere, for Caesar's I am, And wild for to hold, though I seem tame.

Wyatt: a translator of Petrarch Theme: similar to Petrarchs the Speaker claims that he cannot reach the beloved lady love relation from the distance moves closer at the beginning the deer is far away but at the end she comes so close that the Speaker can read the letters written on her neck (Noli me tangere = Do not touch me)

 although the closeness of the deer is intimate the words on her neck cause hopelessness utmost tension Love object: appears in the couplet possessed by someone else (inaccessible) + piece of confession on her neck wild for to hold, though I seem tame distinction between what she seems and reality virtuous, loyal, obedient too wild, not virtuous or loyal difference between appearance and reality it may be taken as a warning to the powerful claimer the love object is not a model of virtue anymore , the male fear of abandonment is also present - tension, dynamism, painful love - gloomy, hopeless atmosphere nature does not appear in any other forms as obstacle - possibility of biographical note: Wyatt loved Anne Boleyn (the deer) - power has its claim Caesar (Henry VIII) wants to possess

b) Requited love: William Shakespeare: Sonnet 130 My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun; Coral is far more red than her lips' red; If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun; If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head. I have seen roses damask'd, red and white, But no such roses see I in her cheeks; And in some perfumes is there more delight Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks. I love to hear her speak, yet well I know That music hath a far more pleasing sound; I grant I never saw a goddess go; My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground: And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare As any she belied with false compare. - 1609 - dedicated to a woman Theme: realism and intimacy at the same time instead of festive, over-gloomy attitude this love exists can smell the lady, can see her breasts the Speaker talks to the lady and listens to her

realistic fashion a real woman, any women shes not a goddess the Speaker doesnt want to make her better than what she is turn is needed realistic, almost ironic concept of love accepting the other how she is Love object: we know almost nothing about her only negative things, negative description no inner qualities are described only visual aspect is at stake no morals are mentioned here or virtue accessible object of male desire c) Divine Love John Donne: Holy Sonnets 14. John Donne: Batter my heart... Batter my heart, three-person'd God, for you As yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend; That I may rise and stand, o'erthrow me, and bend Your force to break, blow, burn, and make me new. I, like an usurp'd town to'another due, Labor to'admit you, but oh, to no end; Reason, your viceroy in me, me should defend, But is captiv'd, and proves weak or untrue. Yet dearly'I love you, and would be lov'd fain, But am betroth'd unto your enemy; Divorce me,'untie or break that knot again, Take me to you, imprison me, for I, Except you'enthrall me, never shall be free, Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me. Theme: Quatrains: the first 4 lines addresses God in a form of a prayer in the 2nd stanza theres a complicated town metaphor (the speaker identifies himself with a town which is usurped by Satan) need for intervention of God as far as this love relation goes this metaphor is part of the Christian tradition St. Augustine: De Civitate Dei (City of God) 17th century mystique: St. Theresa of Aquila The Interior Castle (soul ~ room of the castle, Jesus in the centre here: Satan usurping a place which is not supposed to be his) Sestet: describes the love relationship 3rd stanza + couplet: the soul of the Speaker is married to Satan against his will he wants to divorce and marry God Love object: not a human transcendental love God his love towards Man, he gives freedom to Man troublesome, painful relationship

the Speaker cannot do what he wishes very powerful, violent word are used; alliteration: break burn > forceful intervention oxymorons represent the tension and weakness of the Speaker imprison me: freedom & chastity is gained through imprisonment

2) English literature 1660-1990

Jane Austen: Pride and Prejudice novel, first published in 1813 extremely popular today: modern in its formal aspects though subject matter is trivial Austen is interested in young people who are not without hope and fault in them is the result of upbringing practical views: o best promise of happiness is marriage o love btw the partners o love is not enough o good education (manners, sound moral principles) o similar disposition (taste, moral values) o social decorum: certain amount of money is necessary contains one of the most cherished love stories in English literature: the courtship between Darcy and Elizabeth through the five daughters of Mr and Mrs Bennet (and their friends) we get to know different attitudes to love, marriage and relationship:

Darcy and Elizabeth Elizabeths pride makes her misjudge Darcy on the basis of a poor first impression, while Darcys prejudice against Elizabeths poor social standing blinds him, for a time, to her many virtues undergoing the severe process of self-improvement in addition, several other difficulties: o Lady Catherines attempt to control her nephew o Miss Bingleys snobbery

Mrs. Bennets idiocy

o Wickhams deceit Darcy and Elizabeths realization of a mutual and tender love seems to imply that Austen views love as something independent of these social forces But as mentioned above: love is not enough

Jane and Mr Bingley less determined and a bit less intelligent than Elizabeth and Darcy, they are more shy, charming and popular they are very much alike at the beginning they're not so strong as to fight for each other they both need the encouragement and advise of their friends

Mr Collins and Charlotte Lucas Mr C is the relative of the Bennets, inheritor of Mr B's property C is Elizabeth's friend Mr C is ridiculed heart does not always dictates marriage Charlotte: not attractive, relatively old (aged 27) wants to settle down and to have an comfortable home, security Mr C. forced to marry by Lady Catherine

Lydia and Wickham L.: youngest daughter, frivolous, always flirting eloping with Wickham who most probably just wants pleasure and only marries her when he is practically bribed to do so

3) English Literature from Modernism to the Present

Aldous Huxley: Brave New World novel published in 1932 set in London of AD 2540 the novel anticipates developments in reproductive technology and sleep-learning that combine to change society 5

the future society is an embodiment of the ideals that form the basis of futurism

Love, Marriage sex is a social activity, rather than a means of reproduction social rewards for promiscuity and lack of commitment sexual activity is encouraged from early childhood the few women who can reproduce are conditioned to use birth control "everyone belongs to everyone else" is repeated often the idea of a "family" is considered pornographic sexual competition and emotional, romantic relationships are rendered obsolete because they are no longer needed Marriage, natural birth, parenthood, and pregnancy are considered too obscene to be mentioned in casual conversation The conflict between Johns desire for love and Leninas desire for sex illustrates the profound difference in values between the World State and the humanity represented by Shakespeares works

Conclusion:
Love is a common theme in literature, as either an underlying theme or as the stimulus for the story, as it is an emotion that has great power and is also universally understood. The poets and writers have written about love in its many forms, and they have used this complex emotion to propel their stories and their sonnets. As we progress forward in time we see a distinct change in the freedom authors had as they addressed this theme and a change in the way men perceived love. Thus from the courtly love of medieval literature to the futuristic conceptions of modernism, we may observe this wide range of how love has been and is perceived.