Question

Directions:

Below are examples of two different perspectives on the same topic. Select the perspective that you think is most correct and, in a short paragraph, explain why you feel that way, based on readings from this course as well as your own experiences. Be sure to use specific examples or textual evidence to support your perspective. Once you have completed your post, comment on a classmate’s post to build on his or her ideas, pose questions, or politely agree or disagree and explain why.
Discussion Prompt:

In this lesson, two of the poems you have read differ on their views of love. Which view about love is correct, in your opinion? Why?

From “The Sunne Rising” by John Donne:

Princes doe but play us; compar’d to this,
All honor’s mimique; All wealth alchimie.
Thou sunne art halfe as happy’as wee, 25
In that the world’s contracted thus;
Thine age askes ease, and since thy duties bee
To warme the world, that’s done in warming us.
Shine here to us, and thou art every where;
This bed thy center is, these walls, thy spheare.

From “Sonnet 116” by William Shakespeare:

Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wand’ring bark,
Whose worth’s unknown, although his height be taken.

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

Both of these poems offer different perspectives on love, and I believe that both have some truth to them. However, if I had to choose one perspective as more correct, I would choose the view of love presented in "Sonnet 116" by William Shakespeare. In this poem, Shakespeare describes love as an "ever-fixed mark" that is unchanging and endures even in the face of adversity. He argues that true love does not alter or fade with time, but instead remains steadfast and true.

I believe that Shakespeare's perspective on love is more accurate because it reflects the deeper, more meaningful aspects of love that endure over time. Love is not just a passing feeling or infatuation, but rather a deep connection and commitment to another person. This is reflected in the phrase "Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken," which suggests that the value of love cannot be fully measured or understood.

Furthermore, Shakespeare's perspective on love is supported by my own experiences and observations of relationships that have endured over time. The most meaningful and lasting relationships are those where both partners are committed to each other, even in the face of challenges and difficulties.

In contrast, the perspective on love presented in "The Sunne Rising" by John Donne suggests that love is self-centered and focused on the pleasures of the moment. While there is certainly value in enjoying the present moment, I do not believe that this is the essence of true love. True love is about more than just the pleasures of the moment; it is a deep and abiding connection that endures over time.

Overall, while both perspectives offer valuable insights into the nature of love, I believe that the perspective presented in "Sonnet 116" by William Shakespeare is more accurate and reflective of the deeper aspects of love.