Edna St. Vincent Millay was born on February 22, 1892 in Rockland, Maine. She acquired the name St. Vincent, from the St. Vincent hospital in New York City, being that this was the hospital in which her uncle was cared for. Millay’s family was very encouraging towards the aspect of pursuing culture and literature. At a tender young age, Millay spoke six different languages, and was gifted in piano playing. She attended Vassar College, and graduated in 1917 with a Bachelors of Arts Degree. In 1923, Millay’s fourth book called The Ballad of the Harp Weaver brought her a Pulitzer Prize. Edna St. Vincent Millay had many forms of writing, and was greatly influenced by Robert Frost. She was well known for her feminist views, and this contributed
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“Love is not all,” attempts to persuade the readers that love is not necessary for human survival. Author Edna St. Vincent Millay expresses her distain of people who rely on love as an essential; by using lines like “Love is nor yet a floating spar to those who sink.” Instances of her stance and viewpoints are made clear when she asserts the lines, “Love cannot fill the thickened lung with breath, nor clean the blood, nor heal the fractured bones.” Millay makes her opinion known, and uses love to symbolize something unessential to the vitalness of life. As unexpected as it may seem, Edna St. Vincent Millay changes her former stance. In spite of past declarations, she starts to launch into why love is the preferred alternative subduing health. Though we may be “pinned down by pain and moaning for release, or nagged by want passed resolutions power,” Millay might be impelled to sell peace over love. This proposes the illusion of her idea still against love until the last line. St. Vincent Millay then choses to say “It may be. I do not think I would,” lastly changing her entire opinion of love being unreasonable, to of more importance then health. Imagery is also abundant in this sonnet, as it helps form her argument. “A roof against rain, a floating spar, and a thickened lung, are all included in Millay’s writing as imagery examples of what love cannot protect you from; things that even “love” can’t stop in its tracks. “Love will not stop a person from suffering and it won’t prevent someone from ultimately dying in the end, or having things still end up badly.” (Suttor,
“Love is not all,” attempts to persuade the readers that love is not necessary for human survival. Author Edna St. Vincent Millay expresses her distain of people who rely on love as an essential; by using lines like “Love is nor yet a floating spar to those who sink.” Instances of her stance and viewpoints are made clear when she asserts the lines, “Love cannot fill the thickened lung with breath, nor clean the blood, nor heal the fractured bones.” Millay makes her opinion known, and uses love to symbolize something unessential to the vitalness of life. As unexpected as it may seem, Edna St. Vincent Millay changes her former stance. In spite of past declarations, she starts to launch into why love is the preferred alternative subduing health. Though we may be “pinned down by pain and moaning for release, or nagged by want passed resolutions power,” Millay might be impelled to sell peace over love. This proposes the illusion of her idea still against love until the last line. St. Vincent Millay then choses to say “It may be. I do not think I would,” lastly changing her entire opinion of love being unreasonable, to of more importance then health. Imagery is also abundant in this sonnet, as it helps form her argument. “A roof against rain, a floating spar, and a thickened lung, are all included in Millay’s writing as imagery examples of what love cannot protect you from; things that even “love” can’t stop in its tracks. “Love will not stop a person from suffering and it won’t prevent someone from ultimately dying in the end, or having things still end up badly.” (Suttor,