twice Flashcards
what are the key themes?
Earthly romance vs divine love- after her failed love, the speaker turns to God. The failed relationship hurt her, as her beloved noted that the love was “unripe”. God helps her to feel seen and now she “shall not die, but live”.
The transformative power of faith- her tarnished love to become “gold”, noted that the man who rejected her “marred” her.
Victorian sexual hypocrisy- she gave not only her heart, but her body- “took her heart in his hand”, the speaker feels that she can only purify herself by asking for God’s forgiveness.
the symbol of the skylark-
“wait while the skylarks pipe”- they are symbols of joy, freedom and divinity.
key context
Victorian society was marked by sharp gender divides, women were expected to adhere to strict codes and morals. There is the suggestion with the “unripe” that the speaker had a sexual relationship with her beloved. The speaker’s passionate and emotional ways towards God is radical given that Victorian women should be quiet.
