Everything about On Monsieur S Departure totally explained
On Monsieur’s Departure is an
Elizabethan poem by
Elizabeth I of England herself. It is written in the form of a meditation on the failure of her marriage negotiations with
François, Duke of Anjou.
The
Elizabethan Era saw the emergence of the
English Renaissance and consequently that of such notable figures as
Edmund Spencer,
Sir Francis Bacon, and
William Shakespeare.
Elizabeth I, Queen of
England, was unusually well educated for a woman of her time and wrote several poems, which seem to have been based on her life, in an
era where courtly love was the European tradition. “On Monsieur’s Departure,” is a tale in which the
persona has fallen victim to unrequited love.
On Monsieur’s Departure
Analysis
In the first stanza Elizabeth means that she hides strong unhappiness and love (of Anjou) in favour of an appearance of cool and dislike. This show may be meant to please her subjects or save her pride (because her love was unrequited?). In any case, she's turned (or is turning) from her former (and more natural) self (or behaviour) to something different.
The second stanza is about her unhappiness. It is her constant companion, she's never been able to make it go away, and she feels that only death could banish it.
In the third stanza Elizabeth asks for less intense feelings, saying she's fragile. She wishes Anjou were less nice so that she could get over her feelings more easily. The fourth line means either that she wishes she could feel good or bad, which would seem to contradict the first line, or that she wishes she could show (and vent) these feelings properly. Finally, she says if she can't be happier, she'd like to die so that thoughts of love no longer trouble her. She doubts she'll ever be fulfilled in terms of love. Whether she really wanted to die or said that for dramatic effect is unclear, and of course the overall sincerity of the poem is also unclear.
Comparisons
This poem differs from poems such as, “My Lute, Awake!” written by
Sir Thomas Wyatt, during the same time period. While they both portray
unrequited love they portray it in a different manner. Elizabeth shares the responsibility with her lover and even knows of his pain. Yet in, “My Lute, Awake!” the author leaves all the blame to the woman that he desires and doesn't wish her well.
Theme
Elizabeth I expresses the feeling of
sorrow that surfaces from this disillusion but also understands the other person’s
perspective. Her
dilemma is suppressing her emotions. The poem is expressed with a sorrowful tone. Hence, creating a feeling of
pity in the
audience, specifically in the closing line, “Or die and so forget what love ere meant” (18).
Sources
Applebee, Arthur N., et al.
The Language of Literature- British Literature. Boston: McDougal Littell, 2000.
Further Information
Get more info on 'On Monsieur S Departure'.
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