Critical analysis and commentary on Loving in Truth by Philip Sidney.

The sonnet, the first in Sidney's famous sonnet sequence Astrophel and Stella is not only an excellent poem with very interesting formal properties, it also reveals much about sydney's views on the writing of poetry. The main subject of the poem is the narrators attempt to write poetry to his beloved in an attempt to win her love, and the difficulties he experiences in doing so.

         One of the central concepts of themes of the poem each question of the  source of creativity. Where does  creativity come from? A question which has found new answers and as Plato had commented, it may be ascribed to 'enthusiasmos', is photo of religious exultation with great revolutionary frenzy. Yet when the muse is non condescending, the poet is left a common man unable to find 'fit words' for poetry. An answer to the question can be found in Sidney's poem and can be considered to be its Central theme.

           In the first four lines of the poem we find Astrophel setting forth his artistic manifesto- he would "fain" or aspire to put his love into verse, because the agony of his secret passion might then be transmuted into something attractive. Its beauty might make her read what he has written and from the reading would develop understanding of his plight. Such understanding might then win him her pity, and finally her grace.

              The poet, Sidney in his sincere devotion, desired to express his love in verse. He hoped to offer pleaser to his lady love by his own poetic pain. She might read his verse for the sake of her pleasure. She might thereby come to know his love for her, feel pity for him and favour him with her Grace and love. He, therefore, sought sincerely to find appropriate words to express his feelings of love. He tried to invent some art to delight the lady and studied other authors to get enlightment and guidance for his poetic creation.

        But he could not express his creative, poetic impulse. No deep and serious study could inspire his inner, spontaneous feeling, and he remained in the helpless pangs of suspense. Then he realised that he should turn to his own heart and write according to his own impulse.

        At such a point, when he is about to give up and chews his disobedient pen, the muse arrived and inform him that he has been foolish enough and from now on, should concentrate on his own heart and find his inspiration from his own feelings of woe and sorrow. Thus the main objective of the poem- to bring out the importance of the spontaneity of the heart to be the source of all great inspiration in the world- is successful.