A Comparison And Contrast Of Love In Christopher Marlowe's "The Passionate Shepherd To His Love" And C. Day Lewis's "Song"

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his love while promising her garlands and wool for
weaving. Many material goods are offered by the speaker to the woman he
loves in hopes of receiving her love in return. He also utilizes the power
of speech to attempt to gain the will of his love. In contrast, the poem
"Song" is set in what is indicative of a twentieth century depression, with
an urban backdrop that is characteristically unromantic. The speaker
"handle(s) dainties on the docks" (5) , showing that his work likely
consists of moving crates as a dock worker. He extends his affection
through the emphasis of his love and how it has endured and survived all
hardships. He uses the truth of his poor and difficult situation as a
tool to entice his love.
In the "Passionate Shepherd", the speaker offers his lover a
multitude of delights to persuade her emotions in his favor. At the very
beginning of the poem he states his intention that "we will all the
pleasures prove" (2) , creating a basis upon which all his ...

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are all fabricated
from nature, such as "A cap of flowers, and a kirtle / Embroidered all with
leaves of myrtle" (11-12) . Due to the fact that all substances of nature
eventually die, this could imply that as the gifts will die so will his
love for her. In comparison to the offering of the speaker in "Song", the
shepherd appears to be insincere.
The speaker in "Song" does not try to impress his love with
grandeur. He does not proclaim the gifts he can give her but emphasizes
that his love is displayed through the hardships he endures. The speaker
in this poem simply offers his honesty. Like the speaker in "The
Passionate Shepherd," this speaker "will all the pleasures prove" (2) ...

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