An Analysis of Neoclassical Literature Essay Example

The Neoclassical Era was a time of visual arts, literature, and architecture that gained its inspiration from classical antiquity. In this essay, I’d like to focus on three stories. “The Passionate Shepherd to His Love,” “Of Love,” and “The Tempest.” Although each story perceives love and romance in a much more traditional way, the stories listed above can be viewed in a different light in today’s issues including the different understanding of love and romance, sex, and how men view women both during this era and now in today’s world. 

When talking about love in today’s society, it’s easy to think of it as two souls connecting through common interests. Romance is seen as passion. Romance is what drives two people to feeling love between each other and possibly taking the relationship to the next level. It seems in today’s society love and romance are practical and somewhat looked down upon when it comes to younger generations. While taking time and reading “The Passionate Shepherd to His Love” it seems to be more romance than love. The shepherd is willing to do whatever it takes to please his lover and in return she should live with him and be his love. When reading “Of Love,” Robert Herrick is blindsided and confused by the feeling of love yet accepts it and quickly denies it. This happens way too often in today’s world where others may accept the feeling of love but the mindset “too good to be true” quickly sets in. After reading “The Tempest” the story seems to be more of pure love than romance. The story deals with a number of themes including betrayal, revenge, and family. And within the story, it is shown how sacrifices are made for the people you love. Each story shows love and romance in such unique ways that can be tied to the present day understanding of love and romance. 

Sex can be a controversial subject both back then and now in today’s society. Sex was viewed as something sacred and beautiful while in today’s world casual sex is common and not seen as something beautiful. Now, the stories listed above do not directly talk about sex, but the passion behind the words can say otherwise. For example, in reading “The Passionate Shepherd to His Love” talks about laying petals across the bed to prepare for his wife to lay with him. In “Of Love” Herrick talks of the woman departing, although he doesn’t say what she is departing from, his lack of enthusiasm resembles a man’s thoughts or actions after casual sex. Infatuated at first, later to be disappointed. I wasn’t able to pull any sexual encounters in “The Tempest.” In all, there is a vague difference on how sex is viewed in today’s time rather than during the Neoclassical Era. 

With the talk of sex comes the view of women which has changed over the years but not by much. During the Neoclassical Era, a woman was judged by how she was dressed, her children, and whether or not a man was present with her. This of course has changed slightly in today’s era as a woman is not judged as often when a man isn’t present, especially when she is a single mother. “The Passionate Shepherd to His Love.” The shepherd keeps repeating “come live with me and be my love.” Each of the three stories are seen from a man’s point of view where the woman is viewed as a child bearer or lover. In “Of Love” you can see some resemblance, also from a man’s point of view talking of the woman who seems to have love for him. 

The Neoclassical era was a time of visual arts where poems, paintings, and stories ruled this era. Reading stories and understanding the world at that time was an amazing way to reconnect the past and the present. Finding the meaning of love and romance, the view on women, and sex helped draw conclusions and understandings from the past and connecting them with present. Almost a way to view history repeating itself.