Christopher Marlowe: "The Passionate Shepard to His Love" A Lover's Perspective

This is a poem that was written by a man trying to capture the heart of a woman. That is the basis of the poem as all of his examples are of living happily. Taking the poem apart you notice that he is doing more than just expressing his happiness. He is describing their potential relationship to parts of nature in a sense. In the first line he declares his love for the woman, leaving no room for hesitation. The author is starting the relationship off strong.

Throughout the poem each metaphor represents their relationship. These geological structures represent a part of their relationship: valleys symbolize the low points, groves are the complicated parts, hills are the happy moments and fields are a level of comfort that is associated with all relationships. Every relationship whether it be lovers or friends, experience these moments. When he says how they “will sit upon rocks”, they will have a stable and secure life together; Rocks are sturdy structures and represent foundation.

“Shepherds feeding their flocks” could be the couple raising children. Children are innocent and pure similar to lambs, and since the poet describes himself as a Shepard in the title he could be implying that he wants a flock or family of his own.

The bed of roses is a metaphor for his love that will surround, comfort and satisfy her pleasure. A rose is a universal symbol for love and pleasure. In the next few lines he references flowers which are associated with spring, and spring represents the youth, so the poet could be implying that regardless of her age they will feel young again. When a person is "laid to bed" it usually means that they are at an older age. The “fair lined slippers for the cold” can also be related to old age. Winter is the end of the seasons and life poetically. So for him to say that he will keep her warm in the cold, he’s stating that he will be with her till the end. “Purest gold” is a rare metal and his love is rare as well. When he says "if these pleasures may move thee" he is asking will you accept all that I have to offer.

In the first stanza and last two stanzas he seems to repeat the “Come live with me, and be my love"; making use of an inclusio. He is implying that his love will never change regardless of what happens between them. The space between the inclusio represents the length of a relationship.

Making good use of the rhyme scheme a.a.b.b. can imply that he shows stability in the relationship instead of jumping across the place. The rhymes are also simple and easily flow, much like the relationship. Overall this poem declares his love for this nymph in more than one way.