Poetry · Chapter
Jealousy explained
The chapter uses floral imagery to depict jealousy, contrasting the receptive violets and robins with the anemone's disdain and the hydrangea's aloofness.
What happens
The chapter uses floral imagery to depict jealousy, contrasting the receptive violets and robins with the anemone's disdain and the hydrangea's aloofness.
Key passages
“The violets their soft, dark lashes part, While robins serenade them far and near; But the anemone, with ebon heart And blood-shot eyes, pretends she does not hear.”
Violets open their petals as robins sing nearby, but the anemone, with a dark heart and red eyes, feigns indifference.
The anemone's jealousy is shown through its refusal to acknowledge the violets and robins.
“The violets invite the nightingale Whose carols fall in dew upon their bed; But the hydrangea, as saffron pale, Holds high above the wall her nodding head.”
Violets welcome the nightingale's song that lands like dew on them, while the pale hydrangea lifts her head high above the wall, nodding dismissively.
The hydrangea's jealous posture contrasts with the violets' openness.