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Loving in Truth
Philip Sidney
WBSSC ENGLISH LITERATURE
Summary of Sidney's Loving in Truth.
'Loving in Truth' is not the title of any poem. It is the first sonnet in Sidney's sonnet sequence Astrophel and Stella. In this sequence of 108 sonnets and 11 songs(1591) Sidney presents the story of his thwarted love for Penelope Devereus. In this poem he brings into focus two things together - the eternal power of one and poetry.
Sidney says that he had been trying to compose verse in which he would show the pain of his love for his beloved so that the beloved would read his poem and show sympathy for him. But he was in a state in which inspiration was not working. So he tried to borrow words from the works of other poets. But poetry does not allow this. 'Study', that is learning is the step-daughter of Invention, that is imagination,so the two could not go on together. The poet was in wilderness; his heart was full of passion but could not find expression for want of words. At this critical moment the Muse intervened and advised to look into his heart and write.
Thus the poem records two things. One, that poetry is a veritable means of conveying love and pleasing the lady-love. The other is that the spring of poetry is the poet's own heart. In other words, the poet asserts the naturalness of creativity. It should be mentioned that during Elizabethan times poetry and the poet was given a very high standing. Indeed many of the poets used poetry not only to celebrate their love but also to proclaim their own immortality and also of their love through poetry which they assumed would at last till the Day of Judgement.
Sidney says that he had been trying to compose verse in which he would show the pain of his love for his beloved so that the beloved would read his poem and show sympathy for him. But he was in a state in which inspiration was not working. So he tried to borrow words from the works of other poets. But poetry does not allow this. 'Study', that is learning is the step-daughter of Invention, that is imagination,so the two could not go on together. The poet was in wilderness; his heart was full of passion but could not find expression for want of words. At this critical moment the Muse intervened and advised to look into his heart and write.
Thus the poem records two things. One, that poetry is a veritable means of conveying love and pleasing the lady-love. The other is that the spring of poetry is the poet's own heart. In other words, the poet asserts the naturalness of creativity. It should be mentioned that during Elizabethan times poetry and the poet was given a very high standing. Indeed many of the poets used poetry not only to celebrate their love but also to proclaim their own immortality and also of their love through poetry which they assumed would at last till the Day of Judgement.
Key Themes and Analysis
Purpose of Writing Poetry:
The speaker begins by expressing his desire to write poetry that will win Stella's love. He believes that by crafting verses that convey his deep feelings, Stella will read them, recognize his sincerity, and come to love him in return.Conflict and Struggle:
The speaker struggles with the act of writing. He seeks to compose genuine and heartfelt poetry but finds himself overwhelmed by the conventions of poetic craft. He is torn between expressing his true emotions and adhering to the rules of classical poetic forms.Poetic Inspiration:
The speaker hopes that his verses, born of love and suffering, will touch Stella’s heart. He spends time reading works of other poets, seeking inspiration and techniques to refine his writing, but this effort leaves him dissatisfied.Resolution Through Simplicity:
In the end, the speaker concludes that the best way to write is to express his feelings honestly and directly. He decides to "look in his heart and write," prioritizing authenticity over poetic artifice.
Structure and Style
- The poem is a sonnet with 14 lines in iambic pentameter, following the Petrarchan tradition with an ABAB ABAB CDCD EE rhyme scheme.
- Sidney’s use of literary devices such as alliteration, metaphor, and enjambment enriches the emotional depth of the poem.
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