The Passionate Shepherd to His Love; a look into a Freudian Lens

There are things that we thought it describes “innocence” and there are ways that we thought is seems to be “ordinary”. Yet, as we look upon to the “Freudian approach” it brings a deeper meaning. Men and women are the main point of this approach and the things that depicts pleasure. To men, this pleasure is when a man give everything that girls will find romantic. But little did we know it is the only way, men could get their delectation for women. They use fragrant words and promises of lavishness to seek satisfaction for women.

                Christopher Marlowe in his poem “Come live with me and be my love” confirms the subliminal desires of the guys and on how would they use tactics to get the heart of the women or let’s say the pleasure from a woman. The poem describes “courtship” and the “urge of a man”. Roses, myrtle, pretty lambs, finest wool; all of these are the wishes that men thought to be the points of weakness to give in.

The Passionate Shepherd to His Love

And we will all the pleasures prove
That valleys,groves,hills,and fields
Woods or steepy mountain yields.

What does this shepherd want to prove? Does he want to bear out what pleasure could bring “yields” if they do the intimate thing as they explore the wonder of the curves and the sleekness “valleys,groves,hills,and fields woods or steepy mountain” of each other’s body? The first three lines is already clear in confirming that that shepherd is really into the goal of making it with the nymph.
 

and we will sit upon rocks,
seeing the shepherds feed their flocks,
by shallow rivers to whose falls,
melodious birds sing madrigals.

Hmmm… He does not only want to prove the pleasures but he also somehow described the way they’ll do it. “We will sit upon rocks” this may suggest a position or it may refer to the man’s organ as it erects, “seeing the shepherds feed their flocks” – shepherds here may also refer to him or the both of them as they find the height of his or their making love, “by shallow rivers to whose falls”- (haiai…) and now here’s the ejaculation and moments really come that they have to release the height by making sounds or let’s say moaning.

And I will make the the beds of roses
And a thousand fragrant poises

a cap of flowers, and a kirtle
embroided all with leaves of myrtle;

Then, the shepherd’s erroneous principle in life comes in. He would have the pleasure first before giving the nymph the lifetime assurance of marriage by having a splendid wedding. “And I will make the the beds of roses” – this may imply a bed of comfort in their own home, “and a thousand fragrant poises” - bunch of flowers? Bouquets? Well, we can see them in the wedding day  as they are held by the bride and the maidens, “a cap of flowers” – this may be the wreath wherein the veil is attached, and finally the wedding gown that is beautifully laced and made-“kirtle embroided all with leaves of myrtle, a gown made of the finest wool”

A gown made of the finest wool
Which from our pretty lambs we pull;
Fair lined slippers for the cold,
With buckles of the purest gold;

A belt of straw and ivy buds,

With coral clasps and amber studs;

“Which from our pretty lambs we pull”, wait… does this suggests that they have savings for that day?  “Fair lined slippers for the cold, With buckles of the purest gold, A belt of straw and ivy buds, with coral clasps and amber studs;”, here is another set of elegant swears for a beautiful looking bride; from head to foot.

And if these pleasures may thee move,
Come live with me, and be my love.

The shepherds's swains shall dance and sing
For thy delight each May morning:
If these delights thy mind may move,
Then live with me and be my love.

And the last lines is the invitation that shows all the elegance that she may have, if and if only the nymph will take a move to be with him. Oh how a man can say all these promises but he would surely ground with selfish premises. 

Deon, Mharnelisa

Ponteras, Hanemar

The Passionate Shepherd in a Freudian Light

Though the poem may seem innocently lyrical and romantic at first glance, a Freudian approach to this would actually show the sensuality of the poem. Being asked to be the shepherd's "love" means being his lover. And what else could living with the shepherd mean aside from doing domestic duties? Of course it also meant domestic duties in bed. The title itself is very Freudian already; Marlowe describes the shepherd as passionate.

The word pleasures is also mentioned several times. In the first stanza, the author paints a very beautiful scene. Very romantic enough that the woman would not be able to resist a tumble in the fields or right there on the rocks, after the shepherd feeds his flock, or maybe even in between.

And what more sensual image than a bed of roses, made by the shepherd himself? Showering the woman with flowers, and making her a kirtle adorned
With only flowers and leaves of myrtle? Hmm. There are so many references to garments. Is this because clothes are sensual in the sense that they are barriers that cover the skin and hide the body's beauty? Gowns made of the finest wool so it's gentle to the skin? Does the shepherd imagine himself to be these garments that caress the woman's body? There is also awe and pride whenever a man sees his woman wearing the finest, especially if these came from him. The only thing that will probably thrill him more is when the woman will be getting out of these garments, a prelude to their May morning delights.

Priscila Delgado
Tessa Yulo

"Come" LIVE with ME and be "MY" LOVE

We don't want to make fun of Christopher Marlowe through this stuff, but we just can't help it but be amazed at how we could SEE and PAINT his work with something psychoanalytical...

starting off with....

"Come live with me and be my love,
And we will all the pleasures prove

That valleys, groves, hills, and fields,
Woods, or steepy mountain yields"
From this lines, we could see the frail promises of the shepherd,
he could not offer his darling a legal security but only a SHORT-lived relationship...
yet what could he offer, PLEASURE... when we say pleasure, are we referring to the SEXUAL pleasure here?
coz if we are, then the shepherd will take you all the way,,,,
through" valleys, groves, hills and fields, woods, or steepy mountain yields"
very nature loving this shepherd is and for sure, he would want to explore these places with you
and explore also your wonderful valleys (*hint*), groves (*the deepness"), hills (What's with the woman that is bulgy?),woods (the greenery) and steepy mountain (*hint*). All of these points out to the various wonders a man could find on the majestic creation called woman....

"And we will sit upon rocks,
Seeing the shepherds feed their flocks,

By shallow rivers to whose falls
Melodious birds sing madrigals."

It implies what happens before the *ehemmm* ;the rock is described as something hard, so is he inviting the girl to sit upon his *rock*?
If we interpret this as something related to the act, we could say that the shepherd will feed his flock, the shepherd will feed his "desire" that is being with the woman that is the object of his desire....the shallow river refers to the treasure of the woman (the woman's genitals) flowing with the juice which being constantly being pursued by the "bird" of the shepherd through his "madrigals" (songs of love) ;we could also interpret the bird and the madrigal as the melodious harmony that will be produced when they start their love-making, "when the bird has reached the shallow rivers"

"And I will make thee beds of roses
And a thousand fragrant poises,"
In this lines, the shepherd announces that he can make the nymph feel like she's in a bed of roses, the bed is the material bed where which the shepherd wants the nymph to feel like she's in a bed of roses. Roses (flowers) usually implies something sexual in nature

"A cap of flowers, and a kirtle
Embroidered all with leaves of myrtle;

A gown made of the finest wool
Which from our pretty lambs we pull;

Fair lined slippers for the cold,
With buckles of the purest gold;

A belt of straw and ivy buds,
With coral clasps and amber studs;"

These statements call for intimacy... the shepherd mentioning about a woman's garments simply denotes that he wants to be intimate with her, this also implies the men's desire... "Let me dress you up so that i may have the right to unclothe you."

"And if these pleasures may thee move,
Come live with me, and be my love.

This statement is the reminder of the shepherd to the nymph that if she wants to experience what he has to offer then she should accept it..

"The shepherds's swains shall dance and sing
For thy delight each May morning:"

The swains, a.k.a. horses refers to the woman that she will be owned by the shepherd to dance and sing for him for his delight (be his private's private libido activator), May mornings are supposed to be a time when people are at their utmost high energy... so we could only imagine how high their mornings might be...

"If these delights thy mind may move,
Then live with me and be my love. "

This statement calls for the nymph to decide for herself if she would accept the shepherd's woes.
the shepherd is hinting on the usage of the mind in which the pleasure center is located....
so if this is so... he wants the nymph to listen to the desires of her mind...
for her to live with him and be his LOVE...

and by the way... adding an "O" to the word "NYMPH" would give us the word "NYMPHO" which refers to someone who is addicted to the sexual act...

The Robber Bridegroom Ungroomed: A Feminist Approach to The Robber Bridegroom(Brothers Grimm)

The authors described the miller's daughter as beautiful, and the miller was described as anxious that his daughter  be well married and provided for.  These support the idea that that the female sex is neither inferior nor is it a gender without importance and beauty.  Women are beautiful, inside and out.  Women have the X Factor that draws people, especially the opposite sex.  This is also why men depict women as as beguiling temptresses who cause men's downfall. They won't admit it, but deep down, they are just afraid they're not worthy of a woman's affection or attention.

When the daughter was bethrothed to a very wealthy man whom the father couldn't find fault in, the daughter didn't like the suitor.  She didn't trust him, and couldn't suppress a shudder when she looks or thinks of him.  This part of the story stresses out that women are wise beings who possess common sense, and who do not get easily swayed by face value.  The father, on the other hand, represents the men who would usually just take everything; hook, line, and sinker (Does this prove the theory that men's sense does not lie in the head, but between his legs?).  Women are gifted with intuition, which is why we don't easily trust predatory males with bulging pockets and leering, crocodile grins.  And if the men think it would only take riches and a pompous ego to woe the women, they should really devise their game plan.  Women have more sense of self preservation and dignity than that.

  The bird warning the fair maiden to turn back because the place where's she's going is a murderer's lair imply that men can be (and are usually) brutish and barbaric in their ways, especially when dealing with women.  The man wanted her to come visit so he can cut her into pieces, cook, and eat her.  What does this tell us of the male sex?  They do not hold women in great regard.  They do not give us respect.  Yet they constantly need to "prove" their dominance.  This is also very relevant today.  Doesn't the boyfriend always ask the girl to come over his place?  To play a bit of Parcheesi?  We don't think so.  Women with genuine love and affection.  Men with ulterior motives and cruel intentions.  Even the cases of date and gang rapes are escalating.  Hence the title, Robber Bridegroom.
   The part where a girl was killed by the men show the injustices and oppressions done to women.  The cutting off of her finger which wore the ring was a symbol showing how men have no sense of commitment and honor, always breaking their word, and hurting women in the end.

Chivalry, as they say, is soo dead.

It's a good thing that the maiden was wise enough to throw lentils down the path she took.  The women in the story  who made the girl hide and helped her escape  symbolized the wisdom, bravery, and loyalty of women.  We always rise up to thr challenge.  Yes, we may be afraid, but we are brave enough to conquer whatever kind of foe.

We women are survivors in this discriminating, chauvinistic world full of machismo.  In the end, the maiden traps her romantic bridegroom and his men.  And so these pigs are condemned to death as punishment, something they totally deserve.  

Did we see any hysterical, fainting female in the story?  Nope.  Did the maiden have to weep and wait for Prince Charming to come rescue her?  Nope.  So sorry to put a dent in the men's oh-so-fragile sense of pride, but we women don't need
men to come rushing to our rescues.  We don't have fainting spells or whatever ridiculously fictitious thing we have been wrongly stereotyped with.  We are headstrong, independent, courageous, and wise beings with big hearts.  Who ooze with sexiness and charm.  How's that for girl power? ;)

Priscila Delgado
Tessa Yulo

My Fishy Tale ( A Feminist View on "The LIttle Mermaid")

One of my two favorite fairytales is “The Little Mermaid” (the other is “Beauty and the Beast”).  Why? I just love the sea and how I would just love to plunge myself into her world and become a mermaid just like her. Well, since I can’t be a mermaid (but who knows?) I just have to immerse myself into her world using my “IMAGINATION” (quoted from SpongeBob Squarepants). So while I was imagining myself swimming towards Atlantica, flipping my fins from reef to reef I came upon a magical oyster pearl whispering on my ear to try to look at my favorite Disney movie at a different light. That is with the eyes of a feminist.  (Bubbles forming) I decided to investigate the whole story which of course starting off with my red-headed heroine, Ariel. She is characterized as someone who is headstrong (blame the red hair), adventurous (obviously) and independent (uhuh!). Evidence you say? Well, at the start of the movie, we could see Ariel raiding sunken ships for treasures (land dweller’s common objects) and battling with fin-hungry sharks instead of going to the “welcome to the society” concert her father, King Triton prepared for her (just like what he did with her other sisters). So how’s that for being headstrong, adventurous and independent? Another aspect is the “golden” voice that Ariel possesses. Who else could sing better than her other sisters? This voice served as the epitome of her feminism. Her outspoken ways when she tried to defend her treasure trove (of land dweller stuffs) against her father caused the underwater volcanoes to erupt. Ariel sought then the help of the sea witch, Ursula. This red-head was so upset since nobody could understand her desires (not even her patriarchal and tyrannical father) that she consulted the sea witch. Okay, so let’s move to the Sea witch, Ursula. Ursula through her songs and demands managed to describe how the women are treated by men (people from land). “The men up there don’t like a lot blabber. They think a woman who gossips is a bore. But they get drawn to a lady who’s withdrawn.” This explains while Ursula asked for Ariel’s voice in exchange for legs. Men up in the surface won’t like a headstrong, independent woman who can speak for herself. The song basically describes that up in the surface, a woman who is docile, quiet and naïve is a good woman and is suited for marriage. (Are women really meant to be just that?) So Ariel now goes to the surface, voiceless and being unable to write as well. So how does she get the attention of Prince Eric? Well through body language. (Are we really just mere sex objects?) Sebastian the crab even sings of it in Kiss the Girl. “She won’t say a word not a single word so go on and kiss the girl.” And what really served as a period in the story is the fact that Prince Eric saved Ariel by killing Ursula. (Freudian add-on, Eric killed Ursula with a thrust from a broken mast of the ship which means *toot*). Getting back on the story, Ariel appeared to be a weak and dependent woman when Prince Eric saved her thus cancelling out the headstrong, adventurous and independent woman character I built up for her. (Aaawwwssss, bubbles burst!!!!)  And what’s with this whole “Prince Eric” thing? Why is his royalty the only thing that’s recognized? Ariel is the daughter of King Triton, the sea king but why isn’t she addressed as Princess Ariel but instead addressed as the “sea king’s daughter”?
                So as I swim from reef to reef, I reflected on the fact that “The Little Mermaid” was this close to being a Feminist fairytale. Too bad.. but I still like the story. Hehe. I guess I just have to swim freely in this wide ocean of life and try my best to not give up my voice for the sake of something that would destroy my freedom….


Limbaga, Angeline Marie
Tompong, Geena
BEEN3

Beauty and the Beast

                  As a feminist critic, I don't see much good qualities of a woman  in this fairy tale. Though the female character had some major roles in the story which is unlikely to most fairy tales, she was not portrayed as someone who was strong, capable, wise or efficient. Rather so childish, innocent and simple. Just by looking at her speech , "picked a rose, specially for me when you return" in the early part of the story before her father left for the journey. Even the name "Beauty" implies nothing but a good looking girl with fair skin. NO wit, no wisdom. Plus less common sense. Later in the story, it became more obvious.
                  When the father came home with the problem that she has to go and stay with the Beast, she told her father not to worry. But she had no idea what to do. She didn't have any counter plan at all. She was so naive and could not think of a solution but just to go with the flow. She didn't fight for her life or right nor her father's but to go to the castle and live with the Beast. She didn't even try to reason for the excessive demand of the Beast. A life for a rose which wasn't even picked!
                  So she lived with the Beast and later began to like him as expected from a kind woman. She cares much to what looks nice and pleasant. She is a very typical woman as she is weak, 'beautiful, obedient, kind and emotional. She forgot her promise to return to the castle when she saw her father. She just simply forgot someone who gave her everything she ever needed. But she is so pathetic that she had to cry and beg at the Beast's feet to go out and see her father.
According to the story, beauty is what she had, crying is what she knew and begging is what she did. Well she had good qualities too. But just to please the man like, being kind, obedient, gentle and beautiful. She wouldn't stand up but she obeyed. She wouldn't fight but to cry and beg. They are the possessions of the family or the husband. They are what men need. They are Men's pleasure and supposed to make men happy or complete.

Yaw Mang & AJ Parel

Link to the story: http://ivyjoy.com/fables/beauty.html

The Passionate Freudian to His Love...

Here are two very interesting guys: Christopher Marlowe [1564 - 1593], English poet, dramatist, and translator of the Elizabethan era; and Sigmund Freud [1856 - 1939], Austrian psychotherapist and "Father of Psychoanalysis."

Here's one popular approach to literary criticism, called the Psychoanalytic or Freudian Approach:"

"Psychoanalytic criticism originated in the work of Austrian psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, who pioneered the technique of psychoanalysis. Freud developed a language that described, a model that explained, and a theory that encompassed human psychology. His theories are directly and indirectly concerned with the nature of the unconscious mind.

The psychoanalytic approach to literature not only rests on the theories of Freud; it may even be said to have begun with Freud, who wrote literary criticism as well as psychoanalytic theory. Probably because of Freud’s characterization of the artist’s mind as “one urged on by instincts that are too clamorous,” psychoanalytic criticism written before 1950 tended to psychoanalyze the individual author.

Literary works were read—sometimes unconvincingly—as fantasies that allowed authors to indulge repressed wishes, to protect themselves from deep-seated anxieties, or both. After 1950, psychoanalytic critics began to emphasize the ways in which authors create works that appeal to readers’ repressed wishes and fantasies. Not only is the diction examined for sexual imagery, but the whole work is seen through Freudian concepts: struggles of the superego, the Oedipus complex, with the repressed contents of consciousness, etc. The aim is illumination of psychic conflicts, not aesthetic ranking." (Adapted from The Bedford Glossary of Critical and Literary Terms by Ross Murfin and Supriya M. Ray. Copyright 1998 by Bedford Books.)

Now, here's one very intriguing poem by Marlowe called “The Passionate Shepherd to His Love:”

Come live with me and be my love,

And we will all the pleasures prove
That valleys, groves, hills, and fields,
Woods, or steepy mountain yields.

And we will sit upon rocks,
Seeing the shepherds feed their flocks,
By shallow rivers to whose falls
Melodious birds sing madrigals.

And I will make thee beds of roses
And a thousand fragrant poises,
A cap of flowers, and a kirtle
Embroidered all with leaves of myrtle;

A gown made of the finest wool
Which from our pretty lambs we pull;
Fair lined slippers for the cold,
With buckles of the purest gold;

A belt of straw and ivy buds,

With coral clasps and amber studs;
And if these pleasures may thee move,
Come live with me, and be my love.

The shepherds's swains shall dance and sing
For thy delight each May morning:
If these delights thy mind may move,
Then live with me and be my love.

Is there anything “Freudian” about this Renaissance poem?  If yes, cite internal evidence of sexual innuendos, repressed desires and fantasies, and scan the poem for sexual imagery.

I'm pretty sure that if Mr. Freud were alive today, he'd have a really interesting "reading' of Marlowe's poem.

Let's hear your thoughts on this. Blog your analysis not later than July 18, 2011.