Courtly and Erotic Love

A detailed Summary of Courtly and Erotic Love

Courtly love, entailing only loving someone of the right status, was shallow but held financial stability, power and fame, erotic love was physically and aesthetically pleasing but it's passion decayed with time. Romantic love was, and still is, the only immortal love as lovers loved the person, not their appearance or status of which either could decay.

William Meader (Courtship in Shakespeare) states that recognition of courtly "love is possible only after the two lovers have fulfilled certain requirements as to age, rank and attitude"(4). This was so the lovers were ranked high enough to allow the intricate details of courtship to be carried out. One may be of higher rank, but both needed to be above working class, although the very rich could fall in love with someone of lower rank as they recognise rank is not the only cause of love. Although Meader quotes "it is not proper to love any woman whom one would be ashamed to marry."(5) he finds that beauty is a cause for love but requires good character for fulfilment. Shakespeare's loves are for all time, faithful to only one lover, even after death.

Shakespeare's Sonnet 18 displays Petrarchan style which is to praise and immortalise his beloved. He poses "Shall I com

Shakespeare's sonnets 18 and 130, while seeming very different, have many similarities in style and type of love portrayed. In both sonnets Shakespeare shows some Pertrarchian conceit and they both attempt, but do not find comparison, between their lover with things of beauty in nature. This intimates he is describing courtly love although either sonnets could be romantic, more enduring love, particularly sonnet 130 where he seems to love more than her beauty or hierarchal standing.

He immortalises his lover with his poetry as it will not deteriorate or die like the seasons and he states "so long live this, and gives life to thee"(14) suggesting that while any man exists and can see to read this sonnet her beauty lives on. While this sonnet may be courtly love it could also be seen as erotic love due to its admiration of her beauty although there is no lustful suggestion.

Sydney's Astrophil and Stella Sonnet 31 is a good example of desiring love that is being faced with rejection due to his rank not fulfilling the requirements of courtly love. Here the writer talks to the moon as it climbs the sky , "....silently and with how wan a face" (2). He wonders if in heavenly bodies, does cupid work? Can cupid who is accustomed to judging love see his case. He asks the moon "Is constant love deemed there but want of wit; are beauties there as proud as here" (10-11). He is questioning the moon about ways of love in heavenly bodies and wondering if, like on earth, would pride condemn a relationship.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Shakespeare's Sonnet, Stella Sonnet, Shakespeare Pertrarchian, Courtship Shakespeare, , courtly love, heavenly bodies, sonnet 31, sonnet 130, erotic love, beauty lover, love lovers, cause love, love due, petrarchian woman,

Approximate Word count = 1038
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English