The Dilemma of Conformity: “Sonnet 16” and “Jordan (1)”
The Renaissance period writings “Sonnet 16” by Mary Wroth, and “Jordan (1)” by George Herbert explore the interwoven subjects of love, poetry, and resistance. For background, “Sonnet 16” was written in 1627, while “Jordan (1)” was written in 1633. Furthermore, the similarities and differences between these pieces can be analyzed from several perspectives. Both “Sonnet 16” and “Jordan (1)” use rhetorical questions and a critical tone to illustrate the complexities of emotion and rules. On the other hand, the writings of Herbert and Wroth differ in their closing perspective on conformity.
To begin, “Sonnet 16” and “Jordan (1)” use repeated rhetorical questions to convey the internal/external conflicts of
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In “Sonnet 16,” Wroth uses words such as lost, ruin, captive, prisoner, hate, shame, and hurt to describe the subject of love. Moreover, she compares being in love with being in prison. The sonnet says, “And captive leads me prisoner, bound, unfree?” (Wroth 4). The negative image and overall diction create the pessimistic tone of the sonnet. Correspondingly, Herbert’s word choice and repetition in “Jordan (1)” communicate a critical attitude. According to the poet, “Must purling streams refresh a lover’s loves? / Must all be veiled, while he that reads, divines” (Herbert 8-9). The repetition of must shows that Herbert feels constrained by the norms of Renaissance poetry. He suggests that poems addressing truthful and plain subjects (ex. Religion) can be equally elegant as whimsical poems. Likewise, the word must is utilized in the same fashion in “Sonnet 16.” The text explains, “Must we be servile, doing what he list?” (Wroth 10). Wroth criticizes the loss of power that comes with relationships; Herbert criticizes those who only appreciate symbolic and fictitious