Discussion Topic
Comparison of Marlowe's "The Passionate Shepherd to His Love" and Raleigh's "The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd"
Summary:
Marlowe's "The Passionate Shepherd to His Love" is an idealistic pastoral poem where the shepherd promises a life of pleasure and beauty to his beloved. Raleigh's "The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd" counters this with a realistic perspective, highlighting the transient nature of youth, beauty, and material promises, ultimately rejecting the shepherd's offer.
What are some similarities and differences between Marlowe's "The Passionate Shepherd to his Love" and Raleigh's "The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd"?
The most obvious point of both comparison and contrast between these two works is that Christopher Marlowe's "The Passionate Shepherd to His Love" is an invitation while Sir Walter Raleigh's "The Nymph's Rely to the Shepherd" is an answer to the proposal. By their very nature, then, they are both connected and nothing alike. While they both clearly reference some of the same images, both poems have different functions: one poses a question and one answers it.
Another obvious point of contrast for these poems is the speaker's tone--as well as the speakers themselves. Marlowe's speaker is a young shepherd who wants the woman he loves to marry him; Marlowe's speaker is that young woman who gives the shepherd her answer. The tone of the "passionate shepherd" is hopeful and romantic; he offers this woman everything he has which is of value (to him, anyway) and promises...
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her a life ofpastoral luxury. The tone of the "reply" is, well, not as romantic.
The shepherd highlights some things he hopes will move this woman to marry him, including these:
And I will make thee beds of Roses
And a thousand fragrant posies,
A cap of flowers, and a kirtle
Embroidered all with leaves of Myrtle;
A gown made of the finest wool
Which from our pretty Lambs we pull;
Fair lined slippers for the cold,
With buckles of the purest gold;
A belt of straw and Ivy buds,
With Coral clasps and Amber studs:
Thy gowns, thy shoes, thy beds of Roses,
Thy cap, thy kirtle, and thy posies
Soon break, soon wither, soon forgotten:
In folly ripe, in reason rotten.
Thy belt of straw and Ivy buds,
The Coral clasps and amber studs,
All these in me no means can move
To come to thee and be thy love.
On the other hand, the two poems are quite similar because the "reply" is a mirror, or perhaps an older, wiser echo of the proposal poem. Notice the two quotes from the poem, above, in which the nymph repeats all of the things he said he will give her. This is true for everything in the shepherd's poem. If he mentions sitting on a rock, the reply also mentions it; if he mentions listening to madrigals, so does she. This is really the one thing they have in common, and it is quite significant. There is no mistaking that "Reply" is connected to and a direct response to "Passionate Shepherd."
Despite their containing most of the same elements, it is the tone which most sets these two poems apart. One reflects the innocence and hopefulness of young love while the other expresses the more cynical view that shepherds do not always tell the truth and that seasons will inevitably change.
Compare the structure of "The Passionate Shepherd to His Love" and "Nymph's Reply".
The passonate shepherd presents the ideal of Romantic love. The images are soft and mostly from nature (myrtle, flowers, roses, poises etc). The Nymph's reply presents a more real side of love. It makes the case that this would be nice IF the events and objects in the poem would last forever ... but they do not.
But could youth last and love still breed,
Had joys no date nor age no need
But the fact is that youth nor any of the joys mentioned in the shepherd's poem will last. If love is to be "real," it must be based on things that will last, not romantic ideals, although these must have their place in a relationship.
An interesting presentation of the idea of love as lasting is in Shakespeare's sonnet "Let me not to the marriage of true minds admit impediments." It might be interesting for your comparison.
Compare the personas in "The Passionate Shepherd to His Love" and "The Nymph's Reply."
In Marlowe's poem the shepherd is the protagonist. He is the one who attempts to persuade his lover to come away with him for a life of Edenic rural bliss. In Raleigh's rejoinder, however, the roles are reversed. Now it is the nymph's turn to point out the practical flaws in the shepherd's elaborate scheme. For one thing, the swain is mortal, while the nymph immortal. No matter how pretty the shepherd and the natural world may be at this precise moment, in due course they will both fade and decay. As an immortal, the nymph can spend all eternity surrounded by beauty that will never die. So all things considered, the shepherd's generous offer doesn't really amount to all that much.
The object of the shepherd's love and affection is a passive character. We never get to know anything about her, or find out what she wants out of a relationship. Raleigh's nymph, on the other hand, is an assertive character, leaving the hapless swain in little doubt as to what she wants out of life. (Or more accurately speaking, eternity.)
And I will make thee beds of RosesThe persona of the Nymph, however, whom the passionate shepherd is trying to persuade to run off with him, is a realist. She sees the downside of living in nature. Winter comes and flowers fade. Love too fades. She responds to the shepherd by saying,
And a thousand fragrant posies,
A cap of flowers, and a kirtle
Embroidered all with leaves of Myrtle
Thy gowns, thy shoes, thy beds of Roses,The Nymph says that if people didn't age, and time stood still so that it could be an eternal spring, and if people didn't fall out of love, she might consider running off with him. She is like the shepherd in agreeing that running off to live in nature is a splendid idea—when the weather and circumstances are bright. The Nymph represents the prudence of woman's perspective. She must think about the consequences of love, such as pregnancy and abandonment when passion fades. The shepherd represents the male point of view of living in the moment, pursuing passion, perhaps misrepresenting reality to get his way and not thinking through the consequences of his actions.
Thy cap, thy kirtle, and thy posies
Soon break, soon wither, soon forgotten
How do Marlowe and Raleigh portray love in their poems?
I agree with #2, though there is an undertone of haughtiness to the Nymph's reply. A rustic shepherd offers all he has, and the response is, of course, no. What he offers physically is fleeting, it's true, but she dismisses his love as fleeting, as well. Though he does not mention love or marriage, he does offer everything he has, and she will have none of it. I don't blame her for wanting something more permanent, though.
The passionate shepherd is a pastoral poem with a bit of the carpe diem of the age in it. He says to the young lady, if you like fair weather, simple gifts from nature (beds of flowers, skirts, wool shoes, coral clasps, etc.), then come live with me and be my love. This is a sieze the moment poem where he appeals to the girl's sense of living in the present and going for the temporary pleasures that the scenery, sheep, and his attentions in the spring and summer sun can afford her. He never mentions marriage or long-term love.
The nypmh's reply capitalizes on this. She says, if you could promise that it would last forever...if the summer would be here all year around and your love would never die...then I would be moved. BUT all the things you mention are temporary with no hint of permanent conviction or commitment. Shepherds have "honey tongues" and none of this will last, so why should I come be your love? I can get sweet talk right here where I am, thank you very much. She's not buying what he's trying to sell.