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Sonnet XVII, by Pablo Neruda Essay examples

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Rhetorical Analysis of “Sonnet XVII” An analysis of Pablo Neruda’s “Sonnet XVII,” from the book 100 Love Sonnets: Cien sonetos de amor, reveals the emotions of the experience of eternal, unconditional love. Neruda portrays this in his words by using imagery and metaphors to describe love in relation to beauty and darkness. The poem also depicts the intimacy between two people. I believe the intent of the poem is to show that true love for another abolishes all logic, leaving one completely exposed, captivated, and ultimately isolated.
Neruda begins his sonnet in a most unusual manner. He states in the first few lines ways in which he does not love his companion. He does not love her as if she were “the salt-rose, topaz, or arrow of …show more content…

Perhaps another reason why he loves in secret is a result of unrequited love. In this case, the poem would be describing his unproclaiming secret. A secret so overpowering that his desires are pouring out of his very soul in each line of the poem. Again, the narrator speaks with only strong emotions. There is no logic with his words. He never explains why he loves, only how he feels.
In the second stanza, the poem compares his love to a plant that does not bloom. The flowers are hidden deep within the plant. The text is expressing that while most would not appreciate a flower that does not bloom, the love described here goes far beyond that of anyone else’s. Inner beauty is admired. The narrator is not ashamed of his love. Yet, he feels as though he cannot compare her to anything of this world. He is entirely consumed by the spirit within her.
The poem discusses this concept by going into some detail about the dense fragrance from the earth that lives darkly in his body. I believe the sonnet is expressing that this love is not visible to the world. In actuality, it is a feeling that lives in the depths of his soul. The poem states it is “hidden within itself the light of those flowers.” At this point in the text, the writer lingers and there is potential for an outward expression of love. However, it remains hidden. I believe these few lines are voicing his love leaves him isolated from the world, and no one can possibly comprehend its power.

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