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Thou Blind Man's Mark Diction

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n Thou Blind Man’s Mark, Sir Philip Sidney writes of the evils that his desires have brought upon him, expressing regret over the things for which he has foolishly aspired. Sidney’s use of repetition and diction creates a remorseful tone towards his desires, while the symbolism of desires as a trap show that he can never escape his temptations, even when his only aspiration is to avoid aspiration. Sidney’s carefully crafted diction sets the tone for the poem before the reader even knows what it is about. He writes of “scum”, “dregs of scattered thought”, and “evils”. These words establish the evil of the poem, yet it is not until the fifth line that he tells the reader what this evil is. In this fifth line, Sidney writes that he has “too dearly bought” his desires. By using the word “bought”, he suggests that there was intent behind these desires, that he wasn’t simply dragged into them against his own will. This idea contrasts with the clear sentiment that his desires are a sort of trap. In line 10, he writes that “thou madest me to vain things aspire”. The …show more content…

In line 5, he repeats the word “desire”, using an exclamation point to further emphasize it. This shows the reader the focus of the poem and his strong feelings toward desire. He begins line 7 with “too long, too long”. By repeating this phrase, the reader understands that this conflict has defined his life for years. It is a constant struggle for him, one that seems to have no solution, as in hoping to rid himself of his desires he is still desiring. The most obvious case of repetition is in lines 9-11, when he repeats the phrase “in vain” three times. This creates the idea that all his efforts and desires were in vain, underlining the tragic theme of the poem. He begins to realize that due to his desires, his entire life began to lose its meaning, as he was always chasing after something

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