Distance and absense

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  • Distance and absence in 'Atonement', 'To His Coy Mistress', and 'Ae fond kiss'.
    • Atonement
      • "No one was holding Cecilia back, no one would care particularly if she left."
        • During the night of the crisis (sexual assault), she adopts a dramatic, tragic pose, setting herself apart, chain smoking and wringing a handkerchief. She stares at her family, “unable to believe her association with such people” aka family
        • The Cecilia of part three has suffered- by being separated from Robbie, alienated from her parents, despising her once loved sister and living the hard life of a nurse, which is now made harder by the influx of terribly wounded soldiers. In her life at this point there is no space for a spoilt, upper class ingénue. 
        • She is fierce in her love for, and defence of Robbie. Her devotion to him and certainty of his innocence has led to her isolation.
      • "Everything he did was designed to distance her."
        • Perceives Robbie to be some sort of machinery, he is programmed, not in his control. Hyperbolic emphasis on 'everything"
      • "Drowning herself would be his punishment."
        • Extremely sinister, gives the impression that something harmful or evil is happening or will happen. Could again, foreshadow War.
      • "The turbulence was driven by the lingering spirit of her fury."
        • In fluid dynamics, turbulence or turbulent flow is a flow regime characterized by chaotic changes in pressure and flow velocity.
        • "The turbulence was driven by the lingering spirit of her fury.""Fury" and "spirit" The spirit is the non-physical part of a person which is the seat of emotions and character; the soul. Could foreshadow War, due to 'fury' - it is a time of deep melancholy.
    • Ae fond kiss
      • "Ae fond kiss, and then we sever! Ae fareweel, Alas, for ever!"
        • Puts emphasis on words with use of exclamatory
        • "Fond" - having an affection/liking for. OR, (of a hope or belief) foolishly optimistic; naive.
        • ‘We sever’ and ‘for ever’ is an exceptionally good rhyme. 'sever' suggests a sudden, final and painful separation. But also notice the kiss is defined as 'fond' and doesn't suggest anything
      • "While the star of hope she leaves him"
      • "Had we never lov'd sae kindly, Had we never lov'd sae blindly!
        • Many of the poem/song's vowel sounds are 'e', 'ee'  'ae', 'o'.The two 'a' vowels in the word 'alas' therefore stand out. The word 'alas!' with its exclamation mark cries out in despair! The whole song leads to that one ‘alas!’
        • The fourth stanza is about lamenting and wishing that things were the other way round. The poet says that if they had not loved each other so blindly and kindly, had they never met or known each other, they would not have been broken hearted. Agnes was probably the poet’s first love and he bids her goodbye and adorns her with all beautiful and affection filled words. He uses adjectives like ‘fair’, ‘best’, ‘first’ etc. He wishes her all the happiness and love in this world, proving that his love for her is genuine and pure. He wishes here every (ilka) love, joy, treasure and all the other great things in this world.
      • Burns celebrates normality of life - what you say has meaning.
    • To His Coy Mistress
      • Worms/insects will eat away at her virginity if she goes not give it to him, black mailing her into sex, his song will repeat itself, she will regret not having sex with him even in death as the only sound she will hear is his voice
        • "Unpreserv'd virginity"
      • She can’t give him what he wants when they’re dead, make the most out of their time. Although they are alone in the grave, they are unable to do anything/feel anything because they are no longer living.
        • "But none I think do there embrace"
      • "And why thy willing soul transpires"
        • She can’t give him what he wants when they’re dead, make the most out of their time. Although they are alone in the grave, they are unable to do anything/feel anything because they are no longer living.

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