The theme of imperfect love in Rossetti's "Remember" intertwines with her frequently explored religious motifs. As a poet deeply committed to her Christian beliefs and love for God, romantic love may seem of lesser importance. This poses questions about the authenticity of her relationship with her lover. On one hand, she appears to genuinely care for him, asking him to remember her after she passes away. However, she also seems somewhat detached, suggesting he might as well forget her.

At the start of the poem, the couple's love appears strong, with an underlying sorrow due to the looming separation by death. But is this separation truly imminent? Is the woman actually dying, and if so, how much time remains—hours, weeks, or a year? There is no mention of a specific timeline or cause of death. The reader only understands that the speaker's message is urgent and grounded in love. However, the final line of the octave, line 8, hints at a love surpassing the earthly bond between man and woman. Here, the speaker implies that once she is with God, her lover need not seek comfort or pray, as she will be beyond his imperfect love. Only God's love is perfect.

In the poem's latter section, the woman releases her lover from the duty of remembering her, acknowledging that he will confront the "darkness and corruption" that plagues humanity. Out of compassion, she frees him from painful memories of her, especially those highlighting how his love fell short of her expectations. Given her strong faith, it seems no mortal man's love ever could.

The poem "Remember" is a study in contrasts, marked by a consistent interplay between balance and contradiction. This theme reflects Rossetti's personal struggles, often caught between her religious commitments and worldly temptations. This internal conflict is evident in the sonnet as the speaker wrestles with whether to "turn to go" or "turning stay," initially asking to be remembered but eventually requesting to be forgotten.

In her book, Christina Rossetti Revisited, critic Sharon Smulders describes "Remember" as a poem where the speaker is “poised between going and staying, between life and death,” occupying a position filled with uncertainty. Similarly, in an article for Victorian Poetry, critic Thom Dombrowski notes that in Rossetti's religious works, “the torment is especially intense because the speaker . . . seems torn between longing and loathing, hope and despair, resolution and weariness.” These conflicting emotions and opposing forces ultimately create the balance Rossetti achieves at the poem's end. Although the speaker wavers on whether to leave or remain, the reality of death leaves her no choice but to part from her beloved. Yet, the conflict endures. Her lover’s memory of her will continue to reflect the duality she embodied in life. Will his memories of her be joyful or sorrowful? The speaker's answer does not fully resolve this question but instead provides a solution for either scenario: remember her if the memory is joyful; forget her if it is sorrowful.