Abstract This paper examines the existence of the courtly love theme in popular culture. The paper refers to traditional texts, such as Chaucer's "Complaint to his Lady" and John Donne's poem, "The Canonization"; in relation to the contemporary television program, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer". The paper defines three essential elements of Courtly love poetry: The ennobling force of human love, the elevation of the beloved above the lover and love as ever unsatisfied, ever increasing desire. It describes that modern courtly love are usually adaptations, and that how they adapt the traditional story reflects the values and attitudes of the courtly love convention appropriate to a contemporary audience.
From the Paper "Courtly Love has developed from the later Middle Ages through to modern times as a highly conventionalised code. Examples are evident in popular culture though are usually adaptations - adopting selective aspects. This can be seen through the similar values and attitudes portrayed in the texts."
Abstract This paper analyzes different song lyrics, novels, and a play for how they demonstrate self-love, erotic love, and mother-child love. It refers to Achebe's "Things Fall Apart," Hwang's "M Butterfly," Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath," and several song lyrics. It also includes a personal reaction to forms of love.
From the Paper "Achebe's "Things Fall Apart" we see self-love most expressed in the character of Okonkwo. Okonkwo's accomplishments demonstrate an affirmation of the strength values and beauty of the native Igbo culture. This culture is being systematically..."
Analyzes Plato's conception of love and whether it allows for a love characterized by respect for individual differences by examining four different writings.
900 words (approx. 3.6 pages), 2 sources, 2002, $ 35.95
Abstract This four-page essay examines and analyzes Plato's Symposium, Nussbaum's essay, The Speech of Alcibiades: A Reading of the Symposium"; and Vlastos'essay, "The Individual as the Object of Love in Plato," in terms of whether Plato's conception of love allows for the love between individuals, a love that is characterized by respect for individual idiosyncrasies and autonomy.
Abstract This paper examines the nature of love in Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet in terms of Greek philosopher Plato's definitions of love. This paper argues that Romeo and Juliet does indeed exemplify the types of ideal love that Plato talks about and gives examples including sexual desire, willingness to risk death, madness, divinity of the lover and other.
From the Paper "The nature of love has been speculated upon by humans for thousands of years, perhaps since long before humans have been able to give it conscious thought. Some of the most wise and thought-provoking insights into the nature of love have passed down to us from the Greek writer and philosopher, Plato. Plato is responsible for our knowledge of the philosophies of Socrates, but he also wrote down many of his own thoughts and opinions, especially those on the nature of human conditions. Plato's ideal form of love is exemplified in the play The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, as we will see. Plato describes various types of love through his dialogues including the Symposium and Phaedrus, which give some of the clearest vision of his ideals on the subject."
Abstract In this paper, the author compares how the theme of love is represented in two stories, "Cathedral" by Raymond Carver, and "Shiloh" by Bobbie Ann Mason. One story describes how love builds between two spouses while the other shows how love can fall apart. The author cites additional sources to describe the theme in the two works. The paper concludes by stating that both stories show the incredible epiphanies associated with love, and the destructive force of emotional pain.
From the Paper "In his article in "eThoughts.com," Travis Gibbs asks the question, "Is love some absolute, a fact of the universe that can be discovered and copied onto and into human lives? (Gibbs). The two stories, "Cathedral" by Raymond Carver, and "Shiloh" by Bobbie Ann Mason, illustrate that love is constructed in dissimilar ways. Carver constructs love as a positive manifestation of growth and understanding in an unlikely setting, while Mason shows us love destroys itself, as manifested between two people who fit into a normal "construct," that is, being man and wife."
Abstract This paper looks at recent studies that have been able to unravel several mysteries about the components, phases, and duration of love. The paper shows that each component of each stage and phase of love, when properly applied in comparison to a real-life relationship, can help to predict the duration of a relationship, as well as allows lovers to realize and fix any problems in their relationship.
From the Paper "The least important component in this stage is C. Persons in this stage are subject to a wave of new and intense emotions, both of general and sexual physiological activation. They also experience a gradually satisfied desire to establish a special affective bond with the other."
Abstract This paper looks at Portia's true love for Bassanio in Shakespeare's play, "The Merchant of Venice" and contrasts it with Antonio's self-serving, obsessive love for the same man. Reflections on Shakespeare's insights on true love are offered.
From the Paper "The Merchant of Venice like all of his plays is full of meaning on many levels. One of the predominant themes in this play however is that of love. A number of people in the play either love each other or claim to.."
Abstract This paper compares the different conceptions of love in Ancient Greek society as exhibited by Plato and Socrates in "Symposium" and "Phaedrus". It contends that in spite of different concepts of love, both conceptions include desire, god, beauty and wisdom.
From the Paper "The views of Plato on a variety of topics are typically illustrated for readers through the dialectic method, a dialogue that represents a series of questions and replies aimed at logical ..."
Abstract This paper examines "love", from a scientific, particularly chemical point of view and discusses whether famous romantic literature can have a scientific explanation explaining the affects of love. The question, "what is love?" is answered using scientific reasoning, and a modern view of romantic literature.
From the Paper "The word love has become a very generalized and overused term in today's society. Does anyone really know what love is? A person can say that they love many things: parents, walks on the beach, favorite foods, lamps, books, pets-etc. There is no other word in the English language that is as hard to fully explain. An important theme throughout history is love; artists portray their views of love through many different platforms, visual as in paintings, literature, and music. What is it about love that no one can explain it, and everyone is trying to express what he or she believes it truly is? The powerful emotions that love provokes in the individual can cause people to act uncharacteristically; at times the passionate affection for another person can result in extreme behavioral changes. Can it be that love is like a drug, giving the user a narcotic or stimulating affect that changes the behavioral patterns of the user, due to the reaction of love with the central nervous system? With that in mind, what happens to the first-time user, and the user who becomes addicted?"
Abstract This paper looks at how the play "Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare and the film "Shakespeare in Love", directed by John Madden, utilize disguise as the key to romance and intrigue. It looks at how "Shakespeare in Love" displays the theme of disguise as an equal response to the trickery and guise found in "Romeo and Juliet" and how in "Romeo and Juliet" the theme of disguise through the masquerade ball is important in Romeo realizing his love for Juliet.
Abstract Erotic Love is a highly complex issue because of its various manifestations and outcomes. In this paper the author discusses Solomon's theory of erotic love and how he uses that theory to argue that love leads to limited self-expansion and has certain virtues associated with it. The paper begins by presenting an exposition of Solomon's theory. The paper then argues that the evidence that the evidence which Solomon offers in support of his conclusion is inconclusive and is based on a false premise.
Abstract The author of this paper traces the subject of love through many Shakespeare works. Sonnets and plays are examined. The author then puts an emphasis on Othello and includes lavish quotes from the play in an attempt to describe love's role in the action and characters.
From the Paper "Other than in Romeo and Juliet, which is a romantic tragedy, love plays a part in Othello more than in any of Shakespeare's other tragedies. Othello and Desdemona are presumed to be in love. Roderigo chases after the love of Desdemona. Iago is jealous of the love between Othello and Desdemona and Iago's plots are all based on proving to Othello that Desdemona and Cassio are in love. Although love clearly plays a large role in the play, it is debatable whether this love is true love. This is especially true for the love between Othello and Desdemona. In order to determine what Shakespeare intended their love to be perceived as, it is possible to look at how Shakespeare has defined true love in other works. According to his definition, clearly Othello's love for Desdemona is not true love, however; Desdemona's love for Othello, is indeed true love that remains unbroken throughout the play."
This paper is a critical analysis of the poem "To My Dear and Loving Husband" by Anne Bradstreet. It includes a couplet by couplet analysis which discusses the themes in the poem and a brief biography of the poet.
1,280 words (approx. 5.1 pages), 8 sources, 2002, $ 43.95
Abstract This paper looks at the poet Anne Bradstreet, known as the 'Mother of American Poetry', her life as a female Puritan writer in 17th century New England. The author analyzes one of her celebrated works, "To My Dear And Loving Husband", discussing her open feelings of physical and spiritual love for her husband, and how these emotions interact with Puritan beliefs.
From the Paper "Bradstreet's work, although sometimes very un-Puritan, is not completely rebellious when she does not follow the standard convention of Puritanism. One must keep in mind that the standard convention is based almost exclusively on men, Rosenmeier 4. She struggles with ?the tension and conflicts of a person struggling for selfhood in a culture that was outraged by individual autonomy and that valued property to the extent that it praised God.?
Abstract An analysis of the "Inferno", "Tristan", and the "Symposium" and their depiction of love . The author argues that the myth of love and emotion is hinted by the the author's use of symbolism and imagery. Includes an analysis of the characters and themes.
From the Paper "In Canto V of Dante's Inferno, "all those who sin in lust" are "punished in the sweep of the black wind" (D 111). Similar to the Symposium and Tristan, the Inferno attempts to serve as an expert on love, yet fails by treating the subject in an unrealistic context. The Inferno punishes through eternal damnation one of the most carnal instincts, while Tristan idealizes love by invoking its perfect occurrence through a false means, namely the love potion. The Symposium also fails to define love because it takes an emotion and tries to legitimize it through dialectical inquiry. When read as entire works and considering all points made, the Inferno, Tristan, and the Symposium fail to present an adequate meaning of love. All of the texts, however, make claims that when taken out of the particular works do define meanings of love. It is through these recounts of emotion that the myth of love has managed to endure. "
Abstract This paper discusses in detail the poem, "Sex Without Love" by Sharon Olds: The mere choreography of sex raises the deepest questions about body, soul, God, love and aloneness. The author believes that although some have interpreted this poem as an argument against casual sex, particularly the kind of casual sex that leads to mothers giving away their unwanted babies, the poem is actually a philosophical meditation on aloneness.
From the Paper ""How do they do it, the ones who make love/without love"? The use of "the ones" seems to separate them out into a separate race, almost non-human, perhaps uniquely gifted. The first line ends on the word "love"?ironically, because she is talking about the lack of love. The next line emphasizes that irony, beginning with ?without love.? By repeating love, and because of the lovely rhythm of "love without love" we are already taken right into the heart of this contradictory poem, which brings us passion, God, love, sweat, ecstasy?and yet all the while talking about sex and the body, shorn of any other meaning."
