Analysis of Raleghs Nature, that washed her hands in milk Essay

Analysis of Ralegh's "Nature, that washed her hands in milk" Nature, that washed her hands in milk† can be divided structurally into two halves; the first three stanzas constitute the first half, and the last three stanzas make up the second half. Each stanza in the first half corresponds to a stanza in the second half. The first stanza describes the temperament of Nature, who is, above all, creative. This first stanza of the first half corresponds to stanza four, the first stanza in the second half of the poem. Stanza four divulges the nature of Time, who, unlike Nature, is ultimately a destroyer. Time is introduced as the enemy of Nature, and Ralegh points out that not only does Nature â€Å"despise† Time, she has good reason for it (l. 19). Time humiliates her: he â€Å"rudely gives her love the lie,/Makes Hope a fool, and Sorrow wise† (20-21). The parallel between the temperaments of Nature and Time is continued in stanzas two and five. Stanza two describes the mistress that Nature makes for Love. This mistress, who is made of â€Å"snow and silk† instead of earth, has features that are easily broken (3). Each external feature is individually fragile: her eyes are made of light, which cannot even be touched, her breath is as delicate as a violet, and she has â€Å"lips of jelly† (7-8). Her demeanor is unreliable, as well; it is made â€Å"Only of wantonness and wit† (12). It is no surprise that all of the delicate beauty Nature creates in stanza two is destroyed by Time in stanza five. Time â€Å"dims, discolors, and destroys† the creation of Nature, feature by feature (25-26). Stanzas three and six complete the parallel. In the third stanza, the mistress is made, but in her is â€Å"a heart of stone† (15). Ralegh points out that her charm o... ...s known to outlast flesh once a body has died. Time spoils the insides of the mistress, as well; he â€Å"doth dull each lively wit,/And dries all wantonness with it† (29-30). The poet’s preservation of the order of creation and demolition helps to present Time as a methodical destructive force. Time is in no hurry to get rid of the mistress or beauty, but he certainly will perform his task to completion. Careful word choices and syntax aid Ralegh’s depiction of Time, as well. Reading â€Å"Nature, that washed her hands in milk† feels like a lesson and a story at the same time because the syntax is short and to the point. Each stanza ends with a rhyming couplet, giving a self-contained feeling to each phrase, which lends to the aphoristic feel of the poem. Both Ralegh’s plain style and his use of parallel structure serve as vehicles to convey the meaning of his poem.