Poem Analysis - My Tochers The Jewel

Robert Burns' poem My Tochers the Jewel presents a speaker who feels undervalued in a relationship, highlighting the tension between love and materialism. The tone is initially bitter and resentful, shifting to a more defiant and cunning mood as the speaker asserts her agency. The poem uses vivid imagery and colloquial language to convey its themes of love, betrayal, and the struggle for self-worth.

Themes of Love and Betrayal

The poem explores the theme of love, but it is a love that is tainted by betrayal and materialism. The speaker's lover is more interested in her dowry (tocher) than in her personal qualities. This is evident in the lines O meikle thinks my Luve o' my beauty, And meikle thinks my Luve o' my kin; But little thinks my Luve, I ken brawlie, My tocher's the jewel has charms for him. The repetition of meikle emphasizes the lover's focus on external factors, while the speaker's use of ken brawlie (know well) underscores her awareness of his true intentions.

The Struggle for Self-Worth

The speaker's struggle for self-worth is a central theme. She feels reduced to her material value, as indicated by the phrase My tocher's the jewel has charms for him. The speaker's defiance is evident in her assertion that she is cunnin (clever), and she warns her lover that he will not succeed in his materialistic pursuit. The imagery of the rotten wood and bark further emphasizes her view of her lover's insincerity and the fragility of his affection.

Symbolism and Imagery

The poem is rich in symbolism and vivid imagery. The apple and the tree, the bee and the honeysuckle, and the rotten wood and bark are all symbols that contribute to the poem's themes. The apple and the tree symbolize the lover's self-interest, as he nourishes the tree only for the apple. Similarly, the bee and the honeysuckle represent his insincere affection, as he cherishes the bee only for the honey. The rotten wood and bark symbolize the lover's insincerity and the fragility of his affection, as he will slip away like a knotless thread and crack his credit with someone else.

Conclusion

In conclusion, My Tochers the Jewel is a powerful exploration of love, betrayal, and the struggle for self-worth. Through vivid imagery and colloquial language, Burns captures the speaker's bitterness and defiance in the face of her lover's materialism. The poem's themes and symbols underscore the tension between love and materialism, and the speaker's assertion of her agency in the face of betrayal. The poem's significance lies in its timeless exploration of the complexities of love and the struggle for self-worth in the face of betrayal.