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De Quincey
“In an essay, Thomas de Quincey (1785¬1859). sketched out a fascinating theory of what constitutes a good lover. He began by reflecting on William Wordsworth (whom he knew well) – the greatest poet of the age, the author of much heartfelt love poetry, a confident, vigorous man who had had much success with women in…
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Tristan and Isolde
Story tellers always seem to be on the side of the lovers, despite their illicit, tragic affair. What this story created was the idea of love as a force independent of individuals’ own volition, indeed, having its own ethical imperative. They can be forgiven, because they were driven by love. Tristan is a typical hero…
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Love
Love is the most codified of all emotions, the most subject to the rules of society & culture yet we continue to believe it the most spontaneous & genuine! In medieval society it was bound up in valour & chivalry (producing the Tristan and Isolde paradox, that the best knight deserves the queen but must…