The Ache of Marriage by Denise Levertov
Summary: The Ache of Marriage by Denise Levertov is a poem about the deep feelings of emotion as an ache in a marriage with the speaker's "beloved"
Characters:
Speaker - talks to beloved about "the ache of marriage"
Verse 1:
- Speaker introduces the theme of the poem which is "the ache of marriage"
Verse 2:
- Speaker relates how "the ache of marriage" relates to certain parts of the body
- "Throbs in the teeth" means that you can relate it the throbbing of a toothache, a cavity
- Speaker talks about the tongue being heavy with it; refers to the words that come from the mouth can hurt or ache when in reference to marriage
- The ache of the thigh may refer to the ache one might get as from a marathon, a marriage can be construed as a marathon
- It is written that the speaker talks to her "beloved"
Verse 3:
- In marriage one wants to share feelings and thoughts with their "beloved" but sometimes it's not possible and those that are married become individuals
- It is written that the speaker talks to her "beloved" the speaker talks to her "beloved"
Verse 4:
- The speaker sees marriage as a giant serpent that has eaten those who are married and deep from within the bowels of the monster they would not know joy even if they look for it; joy is on the outside
Verse 5:
- Each couple if married will experience "the ache of marriage"
Other Notes:
- The speaker talks to the "beloved" throughout the poem quite possibly to ask help to fix things that make the marriage "ache"
- This poem was written in 1964 and still may apply today and seems timeless
- This poem touches upon a common theme, pain in love
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