We've all heard terms like 'friend zoned', 'dumped', and 'ghosted' when it comes to romantic relationships. However, 17th-century cavalier poet Richard Lovelace shows us that it is possible to navigate through these situations unscathed, as seen in his poem 'The Scrutiny.' Let's delve into Lovelace's portrayal of love, commitment, and desire in this renowned work.
Richard Lovelace, a prominent poet of the cavalier movement in the 17th century, wrote 'The Scrutiny.' This group of poets gained popularity during the rule of King Charles I, and their writings centered around themes of love, honor, chivalry, and celebrating life. They also had a deep appreciation for feminine beauty and camaraderie among men.
In 'The Scrutiny', the speaker takes on a carpe diem attitude, urging a former lover to release him from their commitment. This poem can be classified as a typical cavalier work with its emphasis on materialism, consistent rhythm and rhyme, and elaborate metaphors.
To fully understand the poem, it is recommended to read it twice - once closely examining each word and its meaning, and then taking a step back to observe the overall themes. Let's explore the literary and poetic devices used by Lovelace in this poem and uncover its key themes.
Why must you accuse me of infidelity when I have made a solemn promise to you? My dear, the morning is upon us, and it was only last night that I made that impossible pledge. Have I not cherished you for a long time? To be exact, for twelve hours. However, I cannot ignore the allure of other beauties and deny them my love, even though your beauty still captivates me. Others may appreciate their beauty, but I must seek out the rare and precious treasure of beauty, like a skilled miner in untapped territory. If after I have indulged in the love of others, you remain the most enchanting, then I will return to you, despite having experienced other beauties.
In 'The Scrutiny,' the speaker responds to accusations of unfaithfulness from their lover. They break the promise of commitment made during a moment of passion and justify their actions by claiming it would be 'wrong' to not share their love with other 'Beauties.' They even encourage their lover to seek out their own lovers. The speaker sees themselves as a 'miner' in search of rare beauties, and declares that if they find their lover to be the most beautiful after exploring the love of other women, they will return to them.
'The Scrutiny' consists of four cinquain stanzas (five lines each) with a consistent ABABB rhyme scheme. This structured form adds a melodic flow to the poem, which would have been pleasing to the ears in King Charles I's court. The speaker delivers their words in a light-hearted tone, similar to a dramatic monologue.
The constant ABABB rhyme scheme creates a steady rhythm, adding to the musical quality of the poem. The speaker's words mirror their own pleasure at the thought of pursuing multiple lovers, echoing the melodious tone of the piece.
'The Scrutiny' is a prime example of cavalier poetry, with its themes of love, honor, and materialistic desires. Lovelace's use of poetic devices and structured form further enhance the poem's overall message. It remains a timeless work that continues to resonate with readers even today.
In 'The Scrutiny,' Richard Lovelace masterfully employs rhyme and meter to reflect the speaker's control in both their poetic expression and relationship. The alternating iambic tetrameter and iambic trimeter create a song-like rhythm that showcases the speaker's dominance.
The iambic foot, comprising of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable, is a crucial element in measuring lines of poetry.Examples of this can be seen in words like 'destroy' or 'belong.'
In 'The Scrutiny,' themes of desire, lust, virginity, and infidelity are prominent.
The speaker's lust drives them to reject their lover and break their promise of commitment. They desire multiple women, particularly virgins, viewing them as objects to conquer. This highlights the objectification of women and the societal value placed on virginity.
After a night of passion, the speaker goes back on their promise, revealing their fickle and lustful nature. When accused of infidelity, they do not deny it, stating their desire for beauty as a justification. This showcases their lack of commitment and disregard for their lover's feelings.
Richard Lovelace's poem 'The Scrutiny' delves into complex emotions of desire, lust, virginity, and infidelity. The speaker breaks their promise of commitment to pursue other lovers, revealing their shallow and patriarchal attitudes towards women.
Written by Richard Lovelace, a renowned cavalier poet, 'The Scrutiny' is a reflection of the cavalier lifestyle that celebrated life, love, honor, and chivalry. These poets often expressed a deep appreciation for the beauty of women and camaraderie with fellow men.
The poem is a dramatic monologue, solely from the perspective of the speaker. This allows for a deeper understanding of their thoughts and motivations.
The title 'The Scrutiny' is ironic, mocking the lover's critical examination of their relationship, which the speaker sees as trivial. This further highlights the unequal power dynamic between the two. Though the tone may be light-hearted and dismissive, the underlying message is one of control and objectification.
