Marriage in Christina Rossetti's Promises Like Pie-Crust and Poe's Bridal BalladIn Christina Rossetti's "Promises Like Pie-Crust" and Edgar Allan Poe's "Bridal Ballad" the women encounter the milestone of marriage. Faced with strong societal pressures, Rossetti's speaker rejects marriage with three well-reasoned arguments, veiled in a veneer of superficiality. In contrast, Poe's speaker accepts the marriage, but at the end of the poem he realizes the terrible consequences of his decision. Rossetti knows what he wants and what he doesn't want from life; subsequently Rossetti realizes that personal satisfaction and even joy can exist without a man and thus makes the difficult decision not to marry. Poe's naive bride trusts in society and marries not for love but in an attempt to achieve happiness. Failing to examine her inner thoughts or accept her doubts, Poe's bride remains emotionally unprepared to marry. An example of the nineteenth-century woman, Poe's bride, despite her doubts, succumbs to marriage while Rossetti's strong-willed spokesperson vehemently rejects the institution. Poe's apparent conformity contrasts with Rossetti's independent spirit; however, societal pressures affect both women. Poe writes “Bridal Ballad” in 1837 in America while Rossetti writes “Promises Like Pie-Crust” during the Victorian era in England; during both periods society requires women to marry (Mayberry 11). By referring to the unmarried woman as an “old maid” or “spinster,” society reinforces the idea that only marriage leads to a contented and blissful state. Born and raised to marry, a woman's interruption of the cycle of marriage and then procreation generates not only disrespect from society, but also frightening uncertainty for the woman (Mayberry 11). ... middle of paper ... bliss." Emotionally attached to her dead lover, Poe's bride demonstrates her inability to love anyone other than the deceased D'Elormie. Citing several compelling reasons, Rossetti avoids the decadent dessert while the Poe's bride, deaf to reason by society's expectations, ignores Rossetti's arguments, seeks marriage as a panacea, and chokes on his medicine. Works Cited Greenblatt, Stephen and MH Abrams "Christina Rossetti." 9th ed. Vol. 2. New York: Norton, 1489-512. Print.Sova, Dawn B. “Bridal Ballad” by Edgar Allan Poe and Work, Critical Companion New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2007. Bloom's literary online.>.

Topic > Marriage in Christina Rossetti's Promises Like Pie-Crust and Poe's Bridal BalladIn Christina Rossetti's "Promises Like Pie-Crust" and Edgar Allan Poe's "Bridal Ballad" the women encounter the milestone of marriage. Faced with strong societal pressures, Rossetti's speaker rejects marriage with three well-reasoned arguments, veiled in a veneer of superficiality. In contrast, Poe's speaker accepts the marriage, but at the end of the poem he realizes the terrible consequences of his decision. Rossetti knows what he wants and what he doesn't want from life; subsequently Rossetti realizes that personal satisfaction and even joy can exist without a man and thus makes the difficult decision not to marry. Poe's naive bride trusts in society and marries not for love but in an attempt to achieve happiness. Failing to examine her inner thoughts or accept her doubts, Poe's bride remains emotionally unprepared to marry. An example of the nineteenth-century woman, Poe's bride, despite her doubts, succumbs to marriage while Rossetti's strong-willed spokesperson vehemently rejects the institution. Poe's apparent conformity contrasts with Rossetti's independent spirit; however, societal pressures affect both women. Poe writes “Bridal Ballad” in 1837 in America while Rossetti writes “Promises Like Pie-Crust” during the Victorian era in England; during both periods society requires women to marry (Mayberry 11). By referring to the unmarried woman as an “old maid” or “spinster,” society reinforces the idea that only marriage leads to a contented and blissful state. Born and raised to marry, a woman's interruption of the cycle of marriage and then procreation generates not only disrespect from society, but also frightening uncertainty for the woman (Mayberry 11). ... middle of paper ... bliss." Emotionally attached to her dead lover, Poe's bride demonstrates her inability to love anyone other than the deceased D'Elormie. Citing several compelling reasons, Rossetti avoids the decadent dessert while the Poe's bride, deaf to reason by society's expectations, ignores Rossetti's arguments, seeks marriage as a panacea, and chokes on his medicine. Works Cited Greenblatt, Stephen and MH Abrams "Christina Rossetti." 9th ed. Vol. 2. New York: Norton, 1489-512. Print.Sova, Dawn B. “Bridal Ballad” by Edgar Allan Poe and Work, Critical Companion New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2007. Bloom's literary online.>.