Love Is Not All"
by Edna St.
Vincent Millay
Love is not all: it is not meat nor drink
Nor slumber nor a roof against the rain;
Nor yet a floating spar to men that sink
And rise and sink and rise and sink again;
Love can not fill thickened lung with breath,
Nor clean the blood, nor set the fractured bone;
Yet many a man is making friends with death
Even as I speak, for lack of love alone.
It well may be that in a difficult hour,
Pinned down by pain and moaning for release,
Or nagged by want past resolution's power,
I might be driven to sell your love for peace,
Or trade the memory of this night for food.
It well may be. I do not think I would.
An
Overview
This sonnet reflects on the limitations of love and its inability to satisfy
physical needs or alleviate pain and suffering. The speaker acknowledges
that while love is important, it cannot fulfill basic human necessities like
food, shelter, or physical healing. The poem also suggests that love alone may
not be enough to prevent someone from seeking solace in death or making
compromises for survival. However, the final lines express the speaker's
reluctance to trade love for peace or sacrifice the memory of a significant
moment for material gain, suggesting a steadfast commitment to love despite
its limitations.
Let’s
Dive
Deep
"Love is not all: it is not meat nor drink
Nor slumber nor a roof against the rain"
These lines introduce the central idea of the poem,
emphasizing that love is not everything. The speaker asserts
that love cannot fulfill basic physical needs such as food, drink,
sleep, or shelter. By listing these essential elements of survival,
the speaker establishes the limitations of love and its inability
to provide for these fundamental necessities.
"Nor yet a floating spar to men that sink
And rise and sink and rise and sink again"
Here, the speaker compares love to a "floating spar," which is a
piece of driftwood that could potentially save someone who is
sinking. However, the speaker suggests that love cannot
consistently offer support to those who experience repeated
cycles of struggle and despair. This highlights the transient and
unreliable nature of love's assistance, reinforcing the idea that
it is not a dependable solution to life's challenges.
"Love can not fill thickened lung with breath
Nor clean the blood, nor set the fractured bone"
In these lines, the speaker emphasizes the physical limitations
of love. Love cannot restore proper breathing to a diseased
lung, purify the blood, or heal a broken bone. This highlights
the inadequacy of love in addressing physical suffering and
underscores its inability to provide tangible solutions or
remedies.
"Yet many a man is making friends with death
Even as I speak, for lack of love alone"
The speaker suggests that due to the absence of love, there are
individuals who are driven to embrace death as a companion. The
phrase "making friends with death" implies a resignation to mortality
and a willingness to accept death as an alternative to a life devoid of
love. This underscores the profound impact of love's absence and its
potential consequences on one's well-being and outlook on life.
"It well may be that in a difficult hour,
Pinned down by pain and moaning for release"
In these lines, the speaker acknowledges the possibility that in moments of
extreme difficulty and suffering, one might be tempted to make compromises
or sacrifices for relief. The speaker imagines being "pinned down by pain"
and yearning for release from such distressing circumstances. This evokes a
sense of vulnerability and explores the potential choices and trade-offs that
can arise when love is insufficient to alleviate suffering.
"Or nagged by want past resolution's power,
I might be driven to sell your love for peace"
These lines delve deeper into the emotional and psychological aspects
of love's limitations. The speaker suggests that relentless want or
unfulfilled desires could lead to a state of desperation where one might
consider trading love for peace or resolution. This highlights the inner
turmoil and internal conflicts that can arise when love fails to address
deep-seated emotional needs.
"Or trade the memory of this night for food.
It well may be. I do not think I would."
In the final two lines, the speaker contemplates the idea of sacrificing a cherished
memory, specifically the memory of a significant night, in exchange for basic
necessities like food. The speaker acknowledges that such choices and
compromises may be possible, but ultimately asserts their unwillingness to make
them. This affirms the enduring value and importance of love, even in the face of
its limitations and the potential hardships that may arise.
Structure/Form
The poem "Love Is Not All" follows the structure of a Shakespearean sonnet,
also known as an English sonnet.
A Shakespearean sonnet consists of 14 lines written in iambic pentameter, which
means each line has five pairs of unstressed and stressed syllables. The rhyme
scheme in a Shakespearean sonnet is typically abab cdcd efef gg.
In "Love Is Not All," Edna St. Vincent Millay adheres to this structure, with the
poem consisting of 14 lines and following the ABABCDCDEFEFGG rhyme
scheme.
The poem's adherence to the Shakespearean sonnet form adds to its traditional
and structured nature, while allowing the poet to explore complex ideas and
emotions within a defined framework.
Figurative Language
Metaphor
The poem opens with the metaphor "Love is not all.“
By equating love with "all," the speaker suggests that love is not the
sole or complete solution to life's challenges.
"Nor yet a floating spar to men that sink"
Love is metaphorically compared to a floating spar, emphasizing that
it cannot rescue those who are metaphorically sinking in life's
challenges.
"I might be driven to sell your love for peace”
The poetess is comparing love to something of value that can be sold
or exchanged for peace.
Figurative Language
Hyperbole
“Love can not fill thickened lung with breath
Nor clean the blood, nor set the fractured bone;”
While love can provide emotional support, the poet uses hyperbole to
exaggerate the inability of love to physically restore breath to a
diseased lung and to emphasize that it cannot literally clean wounds or
heal physical injuries.
“pinned down by pain and moaning for release"
The idea of being "pinned down by pain and moaning for release" is an
exaggeration (hyperbole) of suffering, emphasizing the intensity of the
emotional and physical strain the speaker might face.
Figurative Language
Irony
"making friends with death"
The poem suggests a desperate acceptance of death due to the
absence of love. It conveys the tragic irony (a specific type of
dramatic irony) that love, often associated with life and vitality, can
be lacking to the point where death becomes a companion.
Mood
The mood in the poem "Love Is Not All" by Edna St. Vincent Millay is
primarily one of contemplation, resignation, and melancholy.
The poem explores the limitations of love and the consequences of its
absence, which evokes a sense of longing, introspection, and a somber
acceptance of the realities of life.
The mood is reflective and introspective as the speaker ponders the
role of love and its inability to fulfill certain physical and emotional
needs. While there are moments of despair and the acknowledgment of
potential sacrifices, there is also a sense of resolve and a recognition of
the enduring value of love.
Overall, the mood of the poem is one of bittersweet reflection and a
deep contemplation of the complexities of love and its limitations.
