Compare how authors of two texts present ideas about desire.
Intro
Romantic desire in WH- Victorian novel as the love between the two protagonists
transcends all barriers even death as they yearn for the illusion of wholeness
The poem one flesh by Jennings presents the theme of a lack of desire in the marriage due
to societal pressures to remain together and not break marital vows as Britain at the time
was mostly Christian
Wild oats – sexual desire and how men were less subjected to judgement and were more
focused on a sexual connection than a spiritual connection which is evident in WH
Paragraph 1
‘of dissolving with her and being more happy still!’ minor exclamatory sentence, their
ontological love dichotomy between comfort and torment, reason has been clouded with
emotion. Sanity and insanity symbiotic union, wants to be with her even in her death bed.
Marxists may argue that this is a form of transgression as their love was atypical and was
not based upon stability or conforming to societal expectations of relationships.
‘ I was tranquil’ minor sentence- shows that their transcendental love is the only thing that
will create equilibrium in his state of mind.
Psychoanalyst – may argue that their love is based on constructing their identities based on
one another ‘ I am Heathcliff’
Modern feminist may argue that she was subjected to lose her individuality.
OF- the 3 part regular structure is monotonous much like the relationship or are they
conforming to the rigid ideals of societal expectations or alternatively the consistency is
reflective of the distance between the two subjects
Use of present tense- they are trapped within the cycle ‘lying apart now’ physical and mental
distance. ‘lying’ theme of dishonesty Dissimilar to WH ‘live with your soul in the grave’ can
metaphorically cohabit even through death yet the subjects here face ‘chastity’
Wild oats- title as a euphemism for men to sleep around ‘a Bosomy English rose’ sensual
language rose- sexual and romantic flower but can argue that rose has thorns negative
connotations once you get too close they become dangerous and destructive much like the
relationship between HC and Cathy ‘ dashed his head and ‘savage beast’ the physical
description of the woman a feminist would argue is somewhat misogynistic to describe a
woman purely based on her physical attributes.
Structurally arguable that Larkin places the two subjects at a hierarchy as ‘and her friend in
specs I could talk to’ ‘and’ conjunction sense of carelessness towards the subject. Places
more emphasis on physical attributes which links to sex than personality traits.
Paragraph 2
Desire as a form on addiction between the two lovers, without each other they’re unable
to function and they get withdrawal symptoms.
‘She fasted pertinaciously’ ‘strange exaggerated manner. Through the tertiary narrative
we get a more personal response from Nelly. Melodrama, Cathy has made herself sick
due to the physical distance between her and HC.
‘The conflict caused by Cathy's marriage is resolved only by her death’-Khanis
Yet in one flesh the distance ‘strangely apart yet strangely close together’ has less direct
effects it merely makes the fire turn cold.
HC- Be with me always - take any form! Damsel in distress exclamatory short sentence –
slowly withering way and mentally declining leads to the point of severe physical distress
‘blood stains. Negative effects upon each other
Intro
Romantic desire in WH- Victorian novel as the love between the two protagonists
transcends all barriers even death as they yearn for the illusion of wholeness
The poem one flesh by Jennings presents the theme of a lack of desire in the marriage due
to societal pressures to remain together and not break marital vows as Britain at the time
was mostly Christian
Wild oats – sexual desire and how men were less subjected to judgement and were more
focused on a sexual connection than a spiritual connection which is evident in WH
Paragraph 1
‘of dissolving with her and being more happy still!’ minor exclamatory sentence, their
ontological love dichotomy between comfort and torment, reason has been clouded with
emotion. Sanity and insanity symbiotic union, wants to be with her even in her death bed.
Marxists may argue that this is a form of transgression as their love was atypical and was
not based upon stability or conforming to societal expectations of relationships.
‘ I was tranquil’ minor sentence- shows that their transcendental love is the only thing that
will create equilibrium in his state of mind.
Psychoanalyst – may argue that their love is based on constructing their identities based on
one another ‘ I am Heathcliff’
Modern feminist may argue that she was subjected to lose her individuality.
OF- the 3 part regular structure is monotonous much like the relationship or are they
conforming to the rigid ideals of societal expectations or alternatively the consistency is
reflective of the distance between the two subjects
Use of present tense- they are trapped within the cycle ‘lying apart now’ physical and mental
distance. ‘lying’ theme of dishonesty Dissimilar to WH ‘live with your soul in the grave’ can
metaphorically cohabit even through death yet the subjects here face ‘chastity’
Wild oats- title as a euphemism for men to sleep around ‘a Bosomy English rose’ sensual
language rose- sexual and romantic flower but can argue that rose has thorns negative
connotations once you get too close they become dangerous and destructive much like the
relationship between HC and Cathy ‘ dashed his head and ‘savage beast’ the physical
description of the woman a feminist would argue is somewhat misogynistic to describe a
woman purely based on her physical attributes.
Structurally arguable that Larkin places the two subjects at a hierarchy as ‘and her friend in
specs I could talk to’ ‘and’ conjunction sense of carelessness towards the subject. Places
more emphasis on physical attributes which links to sex than personality traits.
Paragraph 2
Desire as a form on addiction between the two lovers, without each other they’re unable
to function and they get withdrawal symptoms.
‘She fasted pertinaciously’ ‘strange exaggerated manner. Through the tertiary narrative
we get a more personal response from Nelly. Melodrama, Cathy has made herself sick
due to the physical distance between her and HC.
‘The conflict caused by Cathy's marriage is resolved only by her death’-Khanis
Yet in one flesh the distance ‘strangely apart yet strangely close together’ has less direct
effects it merely makes the fire turn cold.
HC- Be with me always - take any form! Damsel in distress exclamatory short sentence –
slowly withering way and mentally declining leads to the point of severe physical distress
‘blood stains. Negative effects upon each other
