Love Armed by Aphra Behn

1) Era:

The poem seems to be written in the Baroque or Metaphysical style, which flourished in the 17th
century. This can be inferred from the poem’s complex themes, dramatic language, and
intellectual exploration of love, power, and suffering.

 Evidence from the Poem: The use of elevated language like “Fantastic Triumph,”
“Bleeding Hearts,” and “Tyrannic power” gives the poem a grandiose tone, common in
Baroque poetry. The line “From thy Bright Eyes he took his fire” reflects the elevated
and almost mythological language typical of the Metaphysical poets, who often
personified emotions or abstract concepts.

2) Context:

The poem explores the emotional dynamics between two individuals who are affected by the god
of love. One person seems to suffer more intensely, while the other person experiences a more
powerful, perhaps even cruel, form of love.

 Evidence from the Poem: The lines “For whom Fresh pains he did Create, / And
strange Tyrannic power he showed” suggest that love is not a gentle force but a tyrant
that causes suffering. The speaker acknowledges that love originates from the “Bright
Eyes” of the other person, yet the consequences of love fall heavily on the speaker:
“From me he took his sighs and tears, / From thee his Pride and Cruelty”.

3) Themes:

 Love and its Power: One of the central themes is the immense power of love, which is
portrayed as both creative and destructive. Love, in the poem, is a force that not only
brings pleasure but also pain and suffering.
o Evidence from the Poem: The phrase “Love in Fantastic Triumph sat, / Whilst
Bleeding Hearts around him flowed” suggests that love is victorious but at a cost
—it brings heartache to those it touches.
 Suffering in Love: The speaker emphasizes the personal torment they feel as a result of
love, particularly through the imagery of "Bleeding Hearts" and "sighs and tears." The
speaker seems to be caught in the painful side of love, feeling that their heart alone is
harmed.
 o Evidence from the Poem: “But my poor Heart alone is harmed, / Whilst thine
the Victor is, and free.” This line highlights the emotional suffering of the
speaker, contrasting their pain with the perceived freedom or victory of the other
person.
 Contrasting Emotions: The poem also explores the contrast between the two people in
the relationship, showing how one is affected by pride and cruelty, while the other
experiences vulnerability and sorrow.
o Evidence from the Poem: “From me he took his sighs and tears, / From thee his
Pride and Cruelty” shows how the two individuals contribute different qualities
to the experience of love.

4) Literary Devices:

 Personification: Love is given human qualities, and in this case, it is elevated to a god-
like status, almost a ruler with its own desires and powers.
o Evidence from the Poem: “Love in Fantastic Triumph sat” personifies love as a
conquering force. It is also referred to as a "God" and a "Deity", which grants love
the status of a supreme being controlling the emotions of the two individuals.
 Contrast and Juxtaposition: The poem contrasts the emotional experiences of the two
characters. The speaker seems to suffer, while the other person seems more powerful or
victorious.
o Evidence from the Poem: “From me he took his sighs and tears, / From thee his
Pride and Cruelty” is a clear juxtaposition of the softer, more vulnerable
emotions of the speaker and the harsher, more destructive emotions of the other
person.
 Imagery: The poem uses vivid and striking images to convey the emotional intensity of
love. The metaphor of "Bleeding Hearts" suggests that love causes pain, while "Killing
Dart" evokes the destructive side of love.
o Evidence from the Poem: “For whom Fresh pains he did Create, / And strange
Tyrannic power he showed” presents love as a force that causes "fresh pains,"
giving it a tangible and almost violent quality.
 Metaphor: Love is metaphorically described as a god with powers over its followers,
which creates both emotional turmoil and pleasure.
o Evidence from the Poem: The metaphor of love as a “god” is clearly seen in
“From thy Bright Eyes he took his fire”, where love is treated as an external,
powerful force drawn from the other person's gaze.
 Alliteration: The poem uses repetition of consonant sounds to add rhythm and draw
attention to specific ideas or images.
o Evidence from the Poem: “Fresh pains” and “strange Tyrannic power” both
have repeated consonant sounds that emphasize the intensity of the emotions and
the power of love.
5) Critical Analysis:

The poem explores love as a multifaceted, often painful emotion, and it critiques the imbalance
that can exist in relationships. The speaker seems to be reflecting on the way love has consumed
them, while the other person seems less affected by its negative consequences.

 Evidence from the Poem: The lines “But my poor Heart alone is harmed, / Whilst thine
the Victor is, and free” suggest a power imbalance in love. The speaker is left vulnerable
and hurt, while the other person is "free" from the emotional burden of love. This speaks
to the idea of unrequited love or the unequal distribution of emotional energy in
relationships.

The speaker is clearly at the mercy of love, depicted almost as a victim of a tyrant god. In
contrast, the person being addressed seems to enjoy the power of love without experiencing the
same suffering. This disparity in emotional experience highlights the poem’s exploration of love
as both a force that binds people and a force that can alienate or harm.

Conclusion:

By using the poem’s own lines as references, we can see that it captures the complexity of love
through dramatic imagery, metaphors, and emotional contrasts. The speaker's suffering and the
depiction of love as a powerful, almost tyrannical force suggest that love can be both a source of
great pleasure and deep pain. The imbalance of emotions between the speaker and the other
person underscores the theme of unrequited love and the unfairness that can exist in
relationships. The use of vivid imagery and personification amplifies the emotional intensity,
making the poem a deep exploration of the emotional turmoil caused by love.

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