Poem Analysis - Lovers Petition

Initial Impression and Tone

Ralph Waldo Emerson's Lover's Petition is a heartfelt and introspective poem that explores the depth of love and the desire for a perfect companion. The tone is initially humble and pleading, as the speaker asks for a modest boon, but it shifts to a more profound and almost desperate plea as the poem progresses. The speaker's request for a solitary heart reveals a longing for a unique and perfect love, suggesting themes of love, longing, and the idealization of a partner.

Themes of Love and Longing

The poem's central theme is the speaker's deep longing for a perfect love. The phrase good Heart, that ownest all suggests a divine or universal entity that possesses everything, including the power to grant the speaker's wish. The speaker's request for a modest boon and small contrasts with the grandeur of the universe, emphasizing the simplicity and purity of the desire. The speaker's plea for a solitary heart that cannot be found by sweeping the map of Western earth or the Atlantic coast from Maine to Powhatan's domain highlights the uniqueness and rarity of the love sought.

The Idealization of Love

The speaker's description of the desired love as the concentration and worth of all the land, the sister of the sea, the daughter of the strand, composed of air and light, and of the swart earth-might idealizes the beloved as a perfect and divine being. This idealization suggests that the speaker's love is not merely physical or earthly but transcends the mundane and connects with the divine. The phrase so little to thy poet's prayer thy large bounty well can spare further emphasizes the speaker's humility and the simplicity of the request, contrasting with the grandeur of the beloved.

Symbolism of the Beloved

The beloved is symbolized as a solitary heart, a perfect and unique entity that cannot be found by geographic means. This symbolism suggests that true love is rare and elusive, requiring a deeper, more spiritual search rather than a superficial or material one. The phrase and yet I think, if she were gone, the world were better left alone implies that the beloved's existence is so integral to the speaker's world that without her, the world would lose its meaning. This statement underscores the depth of the speaker's love and the profound impact the beloved has on the speaker's life.

Conclusion

In Lover's Petition, Emerson explores the themes of love, longing, and the idealization of a perfect partner. The poem's humble and pleading tone, combined with vivid imagery and symbolism, conveys the speaker's deep desire for a unique and transcendent love. The beloved is portrayed as a divine and integral part of the speaker's world, highlighting the profound impact of true love. The poem's significance lies in its exploration of the human longing for a perfect and transcendent love, a theme that resonates with readers across time and cultures.