Sapphos Poems Loneliness and To any army wife, in Sardis - Essay Example

? Final Essay (Sappho’s Poems Loneliness and To any army wife, in Sardis) Introduction Undeniably, Sappho in her two poems “To any army wife, in Sardis” and “Loneliness” utilizes same perspective in depicting the texts’ respective women figures (Sappho, 2002). The two female figures in these texts normally bear similar characteristics though the latter focuses on loneliness. However, its extension is evident in other varied works by Sappho besides “To any army wife, in Sardis” that reveal the woman’s utter loneliness, desperation for love and even pessimistic perception by the society, which the female gender experience to date (Sappho, 2002). Mainly, this when their lovers prefer earthly duties to the love that initially joined them, hence leaving them to wallow in loneliness besides feeling unsatisfied in their unions. This study seeks to ascertain how these two texts exhibit their respective women figures besides other varied aspects, which may be differing or sharing common perspectives integrated by the poet. These encompass loneliness and adverse perceptions encountered by the female gender while their lovers busy themselves in attaining worldly accomplishments, hence neglecting unknowingly their wives’ both emotional and physical needs. It also intends to highlight the controversial argument regarding Sappho’s sexual orientation evident in her writings cited by numerous scholars that she was lesbianism (Karen, 2011). Through these texts, the poet depicts the female gender experiencing utter loneliness besides being desperate for love. This worsens due to the physical separation from their lovers who are far away undertaking national duties. Therefore, they ought to endure in silence without knowing when this will ever end. This is evident in “To any army wife, in Sardis” poem where the persona questions, which ought to be of most value between love and army duties (Sappho, 2002). According to her, love ought to bear much weight to the extent of not having any comparison with earthly aspects or accomplishments. This is because of the central position, which love plays in joining two individuals, whereby they ought to remain together forever. Hence, she concludes, “but I say” (Sappho, 2002, To any army wife, in Sardis, line 6) “that whatever one loves, is” (Sappho, 2002, To any army wife, in Sardis, line 7). Similarly, in her “Loneliness” poem, the poet reveals the female’s strong urge for love but instead ends up experiencing the contrary. She states, “The hours, the hours, drift by” (Sappho, 2010, Loneliness, line 3), “And here I lie” (Sappho, 2010, Loneliness, line 4), “Alone” (Sappho, 2010, Loneliness, line 5). In addition, the two texts depict women as recipients of rejection by their lovers though not intentionally. The lovers besides experiencing the challenging geographical separation due to their respective duties, they are insensitive to the needs of their spouses. Hence, Sappho in her poem wonders what is essential between true love and military values, where one of the spouses seems to hold religiously while neglecting emotional needs of his lover (Sappho, 2010). Besides numerous people admiring the prowess of the army troops and varied aspects appealing to their eyes, his lover terms them meaningless in their union. Hence, declaring her stand, “…that whatever one loves….” (Sappho, 2002, To any army wife, in Sardis, line 7). Conversely, in the “Loneliness” poem the poet does not offer structural information regarding utter emotional insensitivity of the man towards his lover, but mostly the absence of physical satisfaction (Sappho, 2010). The woman figure’s persona contends “And midnight dark on high” (Sappho, 2010, Loneliness, line 2), “The hours, the hours, drift by” (Sappho, 2010, Loneliness, line 3), “And here I lie” (Sappho, 2010, Loneliness, line 4), “Alone” (Sappho, 2010, Loneliness, line 5). Probably, this loneliness could be the reason behind Sappho’s decision preferring lesbianism because she will be near her lover (Andreadis, 2006). In addition, her lover will ensure she attains both emotional and physical satisfaction contrary to an army officer who esteems his occupation’s values more than their union. Since, besides being away while in missions, at home he will have little time meant to spend with her spouse, hence no emotional satisfaction despite excelling in the warfront. Apart from Sappho outlining utter loneliness that the two texts’ women figures experience, the absence of a male response implies men assume their wives are frigid lovers. For instance, in “Loneliness” poem where she features the woman being alone all the night awake and unable to sleep as hours of the night pass by (Sappho, 2010). The female is still awake passed midnight where she exclaims, “And here I lie” (Sappho, 2010, Loneliness, line 4), “Alone” (Sappho, 2010, Loneliness, line 5). She argues that no reason why she ought to be alone and unable to sleep, which implies the husband might be somewhere busy pursuing earthly accomplishments. These are meaningless to her especially when he has failed to play his role in satisfying her emotionally and physically (Sappho, 2010). Correspondingly, “To any army wife, in Sardis” poem, the poet after setting an initial open debate regarding what “some say” (Sappho, 2002, To any army wife, in Sardis, line 2), she declares her conviction stating, “but I say” (Sappho, 2002, To any army wife, in Sardis, line 2). Hence, both figures revealing their innermost unmet needs though the women figure in “To any army wife, in Sardis” refers to a same-sex partner who was her student at one time named “Anactoria” (Sappho, 2002, To any army wife, in Sardis, line 16). The significant difference amid the two texts’ women figures encompasses their extent of independence. In Sappho’s poem “To any army wife, in Sardis”, the poet after acknowledging certain arguments regarding what people value most either between love or army values, she freely and confidently gives her verdict (Sappho, 2010). This confirms the woman’s liberty emanating from her independence in making verdicts that concern her welfare despite her sex life’s preference being against the society’s norms (Andreadis, 2006). Since, woman desires’ inclination encompasses lusting after another woman by the name “Anactoria”, which the then geographical separation augmented her loneliness (Sappho, 2002, To any army wife, in Sardis, lines 16 & 17). The woman in asserting her independence verdict, she mentions Helen of Troy’s decisive step despite the then people contradicting arguments. Hence, she chose what her heart loved most instead of fearing the multitudes, which confirms her independence. Conversely, in the text of “loneliness” poem, the poet depicts a woman whose only alternative is to wait for her lover despite what she is experiencing. This is evident from her short account that she narrates to the readers regarding many hours being alone until past the mid night where exclaims she is “Alone” (Sappho, 2010, Loneliness, line 5). Additionally, the representation of the two women figures by these two texts bear significant differences. For instance, in her poem “To any army wife, in Sardis”, the poet depicts the woman yearning for satisfaction from a fellow gender, hence bearing the picture of a lesbian (Sappho, 2010). The woman praises her former lover “Anactoria” whereby during the then geographical separation, it augmented her loneliness (Sappho, 2002). Numerous studies cite Sappho as the pioneer of lesbianism culture, which started at Lesbos asserted in this poem where she is the persona (Andreadis, 2006). Hence, the poem gives its women figure the picture of a lesbian that is contrary to the societal norms though she shamelessly and confidently guards her verdict. This is by citing other historical icons who chose to follow their heart’s desire despite their society’s negative arguments, for instance, Troy’s Helen (Sappho, 2002). Conversely, “Loneliness” poem does not have negative depiction of its woman figure though leaves the reader guessing what prompted to her misery. Probably, her lover during then was not that eager to stay with the woman whereby he sought worldly entanglements to shun any occasions that may prompt him to be with his wife. Hence, termed as biddy because she fails to excite the husbands to the extent he will be eager with having relations with her. Owing to the woman’s pervert conduct exhibited in the poem lusting after her fellow student “Anactoria”, resulted to the present’s lesbianism whose statistics augment by day (Sappho, 2002). Besides, numerous scholars have attributed lesbianism with Sappho; hence, she acts as the behavior’s pioneer (Karen, 2011). The behavior started in region of Lesbos thus its name lesbianism (Karen, 2011). This is regardless of Sappho’s poetry expertise during then whereby her conduct may be the reason; her work has received insignificant recognition presently (Jordynn & Enoch, 2011). Since, numerous archivists and scholars might have shunned Sappho’s work referring it as pervert because of the negative implications it would present (Greene & Skinner, 2009). Nonetheless, since then to date lesbianism has continued to augment, hence some states recognize it as a marriage institution of its kind, which entails upholding. “Loneliness” poem’s rejection is still evident presently whereby numerous spouses decide to busy themselves with worldly entanglements to shun their responsibilities (Sappho, 2010). Conclusion The poems “To any army wife, in Sardis” and “Loneliness” by Sappho despite sharing certain key aspects, they represent the female gender’s diversities in their respective societies (Sappho, 2002). Mainly, this assumes the women’s sexual orientation that is evident in “To any army wife, in Sardis” poem (Sappho, 2002). Besides the woman in this text experiencing utter loneliness, she is lusting after her former female student “Anactoria” residing far from her. This confirms numerous scholars’ arguments citing Sappho was a lesbian, which they deduced from the protagonist’s writings (Andreadis, 2006). Conversely, “Loneliness” poem’s depiction of its woman figure does not reveal weird sexual orientation, whereby it prompts the reader to assume it is ordinary, though sharing same predicament with “To any army wife, in Sardis” protagonists; loneliness (Sappho, 2002). References Andreadis, H. (2006). Sappho in Early Modern England: Female Same-Sex Literary Erotics, 1550–1714. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 35(3), 375–377. DOI: 10.1007/s10508-006- 9030-x Greene, E. & Skinner, M. B. (2009). The New Sappho. In M. B. Skinner (Ed.), (pp. 362-365). The new Sappho on old age: Textual and philosophical issues. Cambridge, MA and London: Harvard University Press, Center for Hellenic Studies Jordynn, J. & Enoch, J. (2011). Remembering Sappho: New Perspectives on Teaching (and Writing) Women’s Rhetorical History. College English, 73(5). Karen R. (2011). [Review of the Book The Writings of an English Sappho, By Patricia Phillippy, ed. and Jaime Goodrich]. Sappho. (2002). To any army wife, in Sardis. Retrieved on 19Th December 2012 from http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/to-any-army-wife-in-sardis/ Sappho. (2010). Loneliness. Retrieved on 19Th December 2012 from http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/loneliness-210 Read More