Female Pioneer
Mary Wroth’s Pamphilia to Amphilanthus highlights her complex theories of love during an age when women had little freedom of speech and self expression. Wroth was able to break the gender barrier and compose a sequence of sonnets that shed light on a woman’s perspective of love. Her style of writing is modeled much off of Sir Philip Sydney’s Astrophil and Stella, and works well to communicate her dilemma between reason and passion. This sequence of sonnets is significant, for she is the first woman to compose her rather cynical and multifarious ideas about love.
The first sonnet communicates many of her ideas about the power of passion. In lines 7 and 8 Wroth writes, “And at her feet, her son, still adding fire To burning hearts, which she did hold above” (p.1457). She is saying that desire is beginning to consume her. Her burning heart represents that the passion she feels is being held above her, out of her control. This is further iterated in line 12 when Wroth writes, “He her obeyed, and martyred my poor heart” (p.1456). She is a prisoner to her love, and passion is beginning to conquer reason.
Many instances in her sequence of sonnets highlight her negative view on love. In sonnet 68, lines 1-3, she writes, “My pain, still smothered in my grieved breast, Seeks for some ease, yet cannot passage find To be discharged of this unwelcomed guest:” (p.1459). Her flaming heart that she referred to in the first sonnet cannot be eased by simply writing. Her language is describing love as harming her and filling her with false hope.
Sonnet 77 references a labyrinth. Wroth writes, “In this strange labyrinth how shall I turn?” (p.1460). In Greek mythology, a Labyrinth refers to a maze-like structure which contained a half man, half bull creature. I feel as if she is saying she is trapped in a maze and does not know which way to turn. The bull refers to her desires, and the man refers to reason. She goes on to write about the different directions she could turn, and how each way is either dangerous or suspicious or shameful (p.1460). Wroth uses negative adjectives to describe each of the directions, further demonstrating her negative outlook on love. She feels as if love is trapping her in this maze and no matter which way she turns, there seems to be a disapproving outcome.
It is clear through many of her sonnets that Wroth does not view the complexity of love in a positive fashion. Although this sonnet sequence is remarkable, for it is the first known published sonnet sequence by a woman, her writing is rather depressing. I did not expect her to write in such discouraging language; however, I feel as if it reflects the struggles of women at the time. She had to choose between desire and reason, and no matter which she chose, she would either be viewed in a negative light or be unhappy.
After reading Mary Wroth’s Pamphilia to Amphilanthus, i felt the same way as you. Its nice to finally see the view point of a woman on love, after seeing so many written by men, its a nice change of pace. Unfortunately, its not a very positive view and i think it really shows the change between society now and then. Back then women really struggled for equality and their views were certainly not equal to those of men, which is a big change as today, women's rights are so important. Great post!
ReplyDeleteI like the idea that Wroth's attitude toward love reflects her lack of power in the social structure at the time. I hadn't thought about it, but now I see that it makes sense that a woman at that time would be reluctant to surrender her reason to love. Since women had such little control in their own lives, it would definitely make some women uncomfortable to lose even more control to their emotions.
ReplyDeleteThe imagery of love trapping her in a maze is particularly relevant to this point. Since women were inferior during this time period, they didn't have much freedom to begin with, so the idea of being trapped even further into a maze of love could be very frightening. From this perspective, I understand why Wroth was so hesitant and cynical about the idea of love.
After completing the reading for this week, Wroth's piece really stood out from the rest of the lyric sequences. I agree with the composer of this rumination that the clear tonal difference can be explained by the author's unique role as a woman writing about love.
ReplyDeleteIn thinking about how to explore this idea further i suggest a comparison be drawn between this work and another somber lyric sequence like Sidney's "Astrophil and Stella." Although the two collections of poems share a common melancholy tone, they differ greatly. take for example how Astrophil describes his love with pretty and romantic imagery even after his love is not returned; while Wroth uses tormenting metaphor and images to describe the object of her desire.