The Changing Face of Love in English Literature - 1528 Words

Love is a common theme in most 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 writers we have studied have written about love in its many forms, from the cerebral to the visceral 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 writers had as they addressed this theme and a change in the way men perceived love. Chaucer explores love as a motivating theme in â€Å"The Knight’s Tale† within his â€Å"Canterbury Tales†. Arcita and Palamon are the main characters within this tale and their actions are driven solely by their love for the fair†¦show more content†¦One of his most well known sonnets, #18, is a work that speaks of his adoration for a woman. His love and affection for this woman is the sole inspiration for this piece. He searches the catalog of nature’s beauty in order to find some wonder with which to compare his love, but he cannot identify any which do not pale in comparison to her beauty. Not only does Shakespeare vow his love for this woman, but he vows to love her always. Her â€Å"eternal summer† will never fade, even though she may age, he will recall her beauty and he will continue to love her. This concept of undying love despite a loss of physical beauty is a drastic change from the works represented in the medieval era. Shakes peare’s vow of undying love suggests a deeper connection between the lovers than a mere physical attraction. The fact that he promises to look beyond her aging body and continue to see her beauty is indicative of a deeper and more meaningful love. Shakespeare reiterates this idea of intellectual love in sonnet # 130. He declares that while â€Å"Coral is far more red than her lips’ red† and â€Å"music hath a far more pleasing sound† than her voice, he still views her as a â€Å"goddess†. He acknowledges the fact that his love is not perfect, yet while she may be flawed; his love for her is more genuine than any purely physical attraction. The works of theShow MoreRelatedWilliam Shakespeare s Othello And The English Language1649 Words   |  7 Pagesin poetry and the English language. Known, for his many acclaimed works such as his famous plays, â€Å"Othello,† â€Å"King Lear,† and â€Å"Romeo and Juliet† etc. More than four hundred years have passed and William Shakespeare’s work still alive as if it was during the early ages of Shakespeare work. Shakespeare influenced ranges from literature, theater, films and even the English language. 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