In the first poem, which is named “Remember” written by Christina Rossetti in 1890, does stress the idea of strong love and she wants to be remembered and not forgotten. The poem is based on the theme of love loss and remembrance. From the first introductory line it outlines that she has gone far away and is reminding him of what they both once had shared. When the poet stresses the term “gone away”, it does suggest that she may return but, it defiantly does not stress that she has gone forever. However, whilst the poem enfolds the words used create the idea of emotions involved in the relationship, the couple once were together at the beginning and they are separate at the end.
In the second line of the first verse after the establishment of distance, with the words “silent land” this could suggest being buried in a graveyard. The first two lines defiantly have the ideas based around distance and possibly death.
However, in the next four lines the words become more meaning full and deep. The writer quotes this “you can no more hold me by the hand” this could have been a tactile relationship, which does not exist no more and it also seems very final. This is obviously something you cannot do when in the “silent land”.
The writer does discuss the closeness of the relationship by placing her and her lover in the same line. The words “you” and “me” are linked at least three times.
The importance of touch just mentioned in the third line in the first verse, when just a touch of the lover’s hand is enough to make the poet very happy and content within herself. This is a very traditional poem in it is the man who dominates, it shows that she does have great respect for male authority, which was very much the norm in the time in which the poem was written. The poem may suggest that the couple of whom are the main focal point may be young adults that are trying to plan there near but distance future together and the closeness they once had “you tell me of out future”. But, then they part and all they have left is distant memories.
Half way through the poem the writer desperately stress again to be remembered this could be that, she was more infatuated with him than he was with her. This could suggest signs of insecurity or could even have been her first love and does not want to let go of what she once had “only remember me: you understand” a pledge for help could be another reason for her obsession with her lover. All of these love-binding words constructed to make it a deep meaningful and romantic poem, shows how important and powerful love is or can be. Even more so when you lose someone close to you.
The words “it will be lat to counsel then or pray”, this shows the deepening of the understanding of their relationship. It also shows that they were not once just lovers but also good friends that shared, discussed and gave very valuable advice to one another.
After this line the poem can be categorised into saying that it is an octet but then switches completely around and the poem then contradicts what has just been written at the beginning.
The poet in the poem can be seen as rather selfish and pitiful, she is the weaker one in the relationship therefore she should be remembered.
But, in the last few verses know as the sestet we see a whole new person involve and turn into a heroic but yet independent women. The words quoted “do not grieve” which shows that the writer does not want to be remembered for the fact that she is not alive and would prefer that he remembers her as is she was still alive. She does later in the poem tell of her Christian faith and beliefs in eternal life.
The poet then seems like she is given up trying to put across her point and feels that she has reached the end. The poet ends the poem with these last few words “you should forget and smile”. It does seem that she tries to make her the most important person in the relationship now that she’s gone.
The poem does show positivity and has a meaning behind it which shows how strong love can be and can affect and change a person’s behaviour.
In the second poem called “In Death Divided” written in 1890 by Thomas Hardy straight away you know that it is about a loved one that has passed away.
With Hardy’s poem he writes them in away which makes them seem blunt and very straight to the point no feeling is expressed, the poem gives off this very cold and unhearten image. He tells the poem to be realistic and is not in anyway fantasised unlike Rossetti’s poem.
Hardy is the type of poet who is a male authority figure and much more is a man who wishes to place his lover on a pedestal and downgrade himself, but with Rossetti’s poems you are more likely to be touched by her deep sincerity of everlasting love and hope. The striking but major difference is that although Hardy and his lover are still alive, it is just that his ideas that are based around the poem are similar.
Hardy begins with a rather grim and dull out look to death as a whole with the words ” I shall rot here”. With Rossetti, she tries to make out the great after life of death and love, with words “when I have gone away” it sounds very pretty and is if the reality of death is not really spelt out.
Hardy continues throughout the play with his realistic thought of death.
“Chilled to clay” this maybe suggesting the coldness and grim reality but these type of cold hard words used in Rossetti’s poems are absent.
What is suggested or told to the reader is the distance between himself and his lover “distance grave place”. Despite the fact they are not alone but surrounded by other foreign bodies “aliens” Hardy describes them as, who were unknown to them in life.
Where as great essential togetherness is most on Rossetti’s part but it was still more affection and it is the separateness that is the reality of death mostly stressed in Hardy’s poem.
In Hardy’s case there seems to be no possibility of remembrance, because of the greatness of separation. This is seen by the fact that know one will visit these graves “same shade of pinnacle of tree or tower”. This does suggest that there is no mystical connection. In Rossetti’s poems it does show togetherness quite greatly. When quoted “hold me by the hand” shows great closeness and affection.
Indeed the shade will not “steel” this makes one wonder even more that the relationship could have once been an affair and that it must now be forgotten about once they have passed away. The symbol of distance is once shown again with the words “green covertures”. But the warmthness and closeness together when the two of them both “counsel” or “pray” together is very much contained within Rossetti’s poems.
Again, with Rossetti she wishes for the link between her and her lover, where as Hardy has stated that there is no apparent impossibility of this. Hardy writes of a “organ” that “may resound on Sunday noon” this may suggest a wedding or a church service in presence.
Life in Rossetti’s eyes seem as if it has a touching and meaningful conversation captured with it. In Hardy’s poem, death to him is like a dull black hole were in which you lie. It is as if Hardy’s romantic emotions of death are cold and can find nothing romantic even so in the after life.
If we compare and sum up both poems, at this point is where the readers are getting mixed emotions and also the endings of both poems are left very open for the reader to interpret the meanings behind these two poems. Mysterious would be the word to describe both poems but they are mysterious in different ways.
Hardy goes into more detail of this great distance between them both, as they both lie apart there gravestones have ” no linking symbols show theron for our tale’s sake”. This means that although they once were together they will no longer be not even in eternity.
In Rossetti’s poem there is only her lover and herself, Hardy contrasts this stating that we lie in death like strangers to one another.
This puts both of their lives into perspective stating that those whom still remain alive are that much engaged in “the monotonous molls of strained hard-run humanity”. Yet in Rossetti’s poem there is something as splendid as love and care in the relationship.
But in the mind of Hardy he speaks of the ” eternal tie which binds us together” Hardy then starts to show off his vast emotions, this would be know as a religious accusation, but he is an atheist this doe show contradiction in the poem. This is the same as in Rossetti’s poem where she starts the poem off with pure sincerity and then contradiction comes in half way through the poem. But, both poets do describe of a close relationship once had with their lovers but with Rossetti she is desperate to be remembered, whereas Hardy stresses the distance between them both. The two poems ” Remember and “In Death Divided” do share love, loss and remembrance in the relationship but in different ways.
