Meaning of “care” in “ my care is like a shadow in the sun”
In the poem “On Monsieur’s Departure” attributed to Queen Elizabeth I of England, we find this passage:
My care is like my shadow in the sun
Follows me flying, flies when I pursue it,
Stands and lies by me, doth what I have done,
His too familiar care doth make me rue it.
No means I find to rid him from my breast,
Till by the end of things it be supressed
What is the meaning of care as it appears in these two places?
meaning-in-context poetry early-modern-english
edited Oct 8 '17 at 11:16
Janus Bahs Jacquet
29.5k570127
asked Oct 8 '17 at 8:17
Ben BostBen Bost
5118
add a comment |
In the poem “On Monsieur’s Departure” attributed to Queen Elizabeth I of England, we find this passage:
My care is like my shadow in the sun
Follows me flying, flies when I pursue it,
Stands and lies by me, doth what I have done,
His too familiar care doth make me rue it.
No means I find to rid him from my breast,
Till by the end of things it be supressed
What is the meaning of care as it appears in these two places?
meaning-in-context poetry early-modern-english
edited Oct 8 '17 at 11:16
Janus Bahs Jacquet
29.5k570127
asked Oct 8 '17 at 8:17
Ben BostBen Bost
5118
1
Anxious thoughts / concerns (personified) I'd guess, but more context is needed. The second 'care' seems to be care's care, which would make it care's constant attendance.
– Edwin Ashworth
Oct 8 '17 at 8:19
It feels like the first instance ought to mean ‘my ward’ (i.e., ‘the person who is in my care’), but Wikipedia’s description of the poem that it is a poem of unrequited love or failed marriage negotations would make that somewhat unlikely. Someone you’re hoping to marry isn’t really in your care, even if you are the queen. It may mean ‘grief’ or ‘perturbation’ instead, or indeed it may simply just mean ‘love’. I’m afraid we’re veering off into the area of literary interpretation here, however, which is explicitly off-topic on ELU. It may be better on Literature.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Oct 8 '17 at 11:26
This question belongs on another site in the Stack Exchange network.
– Edwin Ashworth
Oct 8 '17 at 15:16
add a comment |
In the poem “On Monsieur’s Departure” attributed to Queen Elizabeth I of England, we find this passage:
My care is like my shadow in the sun
Follows me flying, flies when I pursue it,
Stands and lies by me, doth what I have done,
His too familiar care doth make me rue it.
No means I find to rid him from my breast,
Till by the end of things it be supressed
What is the meaning of care as it appears in these two places?
meaning-in-context poetry early-modern-english
edited Oct 8 '17 at 11:16
Janus Bahs Jacquet
29.5k570127
asked Oct 8 '17 at 8:17
Ben BostBen Bost
5118
In the poem “On Monsieur’s Departure” attributed to Queen Elizabeth I of England, we find this passage:
My care is like my shadow in the sun
Follows me flying, flies when I pursue it,
Stands and lies by me, doth what I have done,
His too familiar care doth make me rue it.
No means I find to rid him from my breast,
Till by the end of things it be supressed
What is the meaning of care as it appears in these two places?
meaning-in-context poetry early-modern-english
meaning-in-context poetry early-modern-english
edited Oct 8 '17 at 11:16
Janus Bahs Jacquet
29.5k570127
asked Oct 8 '17 at 8:17
Ben BostBen Bost
5118
edited Oct 8 '17 at 11:16
Janus Bahs Jacquet
29.5k570127
asked Oct 8 '17 at 8:17
Ben BostBen Bost
5118
edited Oct 8 '17 at 11:16
Janus Bahs Jacquet
29.5k570127
edited Oct 8 '17 at 11:16
Janus Bahs Jacquet
29.5k570127
edited Oct 8 '17 at 11:16
Janus Bahs Jacquet
29.5k570127
29.5k570127
asked Oct 8 '17 at 8:17
Ben BostBen Bost
5118
asked Oct 8 '17 at 8:17
Ben BostBen Bost
5118
asked Oct 8 '17 at 8:17
Ben BostBen Bost
5118
5118
1
Anxious thoughts / concerns (personified) I'd guess, but more context is needed. The second 'care' seems to be care's care, which would make it care's constant attendance.
– Edwin Ashworth
Oct 8 '17 at 8:19
It feels like the first instance ought to mean ‘my ward’ (i.e., ‘the person who is in my care’), but Wikipedia’s description of the poem that it is a poem of unrequited love or failed marriage negotations would make that somewhat unlikely. Someone you’re hoping to marry isn’t really in your care, even if you are the queen. It may mean ‘grief’ or ‘perturbation’ instead, or indeed it may simply just mean ‘love’. I’m afraid we’re veering off into the area of literary interpretation here, however, which is explicitly off-topic on ELU. It may be better on Literature.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Oct 8 '17 at 11:26
This question belongs on another site in the Stack Exchange network.
– Edwin Ashworth
Oct 8 '17 at 15:16
add a comment |
1
Anxious thoughts / concerns (personified) I'd guess, but more context is needed. The second 'care' seems to be care's care, which would make it care's constant attendance.
– Edwin Ashworth
Oct 8 '17 at 8:19
It feels like the first instance ought to mean ‘my ward’ (i.e., ‘the person who is in my care’), but Wikipedia’s description of the poem that it is a poem of unrequited love or failed marriage negotations would make that somewhat unlikely. Someone you’re hoping to marry isn’t really in your care, even if you are the queen. It may mean ‘grief’ or ‘perturbation’ instead, or indeed it may simply just mean ‘love’. I’m afraid we’re veering off into the area of literary interpretation here, however, which is explicitly off-topic on ELU. It may be better on Literature.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Oct 8 '17 at 11:26
This question belongs on another site in the Stack Exchange network.
– Edwin Ashworth
Oct 8 '17 at 15:16
1
1
Anxious thoughts / concerns (personified) I'd guess, but more context is needed. The second 'care' seems to be care's care, which would make it care's constant attendance.
– Edwin Ashworth
Oct 8 '17 at 8:19
Anxious thoughts / concerns (personified) I'd guess, but more context is needed. The second 'care' seems to be care's care, which would make it care's constant attendance.
– Edwin Ashworth
Oct 8 '17 at 8:19
It feels like the first instance ought to mean ‘my ward’ (i.e., ‘the person who is in my care’), but Wikipedia’s description of the poem that it is a poem of unrequited love or failed marriage negotations would make that somewhat unlikely. Someone you’re hoping to marry isn’t really in your care, even if you are the queen. It may mean ‘grief’ or ‘perturbation’ instead, or indeed it may simply just mean ‘love’. I’m afraid we’re veering off into the area of literary interpretation here, however, which is explicitly off-topic on ELU. It may be better on Literature.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Oct 8 '17 at 11:26
It feels like the first instance ought to mean ‘my ward’ (i.e., ‘the person who is in my care’), but Wikipedia’s description of the poem that it is a poem of unrequited love or failed marriage negotations would make that somewhat unlikely. Someone you’re hoping to marry isn’t really in your care, even if you are the queen. It may mean ‘grief’ or ‘perturbation’ instead, or indeed it may simply just mean ‘love’. I’m afraid we’re veering off into the area of literary interpretation here, however, which is explicitly off-topic on ELU. It may be better on Literature.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Oct 8 '17 at 11:26
This question belongs on another site in the Stack Exchange network.
– Edwin Ashworth
Oct 8 '17 at 15:16
This question belongs on another site in the Stack Exchange network.
– Edwin Ashworth
Oct 8 '17 at 15:16
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
This sense of the noun care means a concern (i.e. a solicitude), and in context connotes caution, and hence anxiety. In the poem this care is an inescapable source of grief and worry which nevertheless must be dealt with.
A similar sense of the word care is used in Shakespeare's Henry VI, Part II when the lords are counseling Henry that Gloucester has designs for the throne. Henry responds:
My lords, at once: the care you have of us,
to mow down thorns that would annoy our foot,
is worthy praise.
In other words, the king appreciates the caution and concern expressed by his nobles. He then goes on to disagree with them.
answered 11 mins ago
Trevor ReidTrevor Reid
1266
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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This sense of the noun care means a concern (i.e. a solicitude), and in context connotes caution, and hence anxiety. In the poem this care is an inescapable source of grief and worry which nevertheless must be dealt with.
A similar sense of the word care is used in Shakespeare's Henry VI, Part II when the lords are counseling Henry that Gloucester has designs for the throne. Henry responds:
My lords, at once: the care you have of us,
to mow down thorns that would annoy our foot,
is worthy praise.
In other words, the king appreciates the caution and concern expressed by his nobles. He then goes on to disagree with them.
answered 11 mins ago
Trevor ReidTrevor Reid
1266
add a comment |
This sense of the noun care means a concern (i.e. a solicitude), and in context connotes caution, and hence anxiety. In the poem this care is an inescapable source of grief and worry which nevertheless must be dealt with.
A similar sense of the word care is used in Shakespeare's Henry VI, Part II when the lords are counseling Henry that Gloucester has designs for the throne. Henry responds:
My lords, at once: the care you have of us,
to mow down thorns that would annoy our foot,
is worthy praise.
In other words, the king appreciates the caution and concern expressed by his nobles. He then goes on to disagree with them.
answered 11 mins ago
Trevor ReidTrevor Reid
1266
add a comment |
This sense of the noun care means a concern (i.e. a solicitude), and in context connotes caution, and hence anxiety. In the poem this care is an inescapable source of grief and worry which nevertheless must be dealt with.
A similar sense of the word care is used in Shakespeare's Henry VI, Part II when the lords are counseling Henry that Gloucester has designs for the throne. Henry responds:
My lords, at once: the care you have of us,
to mow down thorns that would annoy our foot,
is worthy praise.
In other words, the king appreciates the caution and concern expressed by his nobles. He then goes on to disagree with them.
answered 11 mins ago
Trevor ReidTrevor Reid
1266
This sense of the noun care means a concern (i.e. a solicitude), and in context connotes caution, and hence anxiety. In the poem this care is an inescapable source of grief and worry which nevertheless must be dealt with.
A similar sense of the word care is used in Shakespeare's Henry VI, Part II when the lords are counseling Henry that Gloucester has designs for the throne. Henry responds:
My lords, at once: the care you have of us,
to mow down thorns that would annoy our foot,
is worthy praise.
In other words, the king appreciates the caution and concern expressed by his nobles. He then goes on to disagree with them.
answered 11 mins ago
Trevor ReidTrevor Reid
1266
answered 11 mins ago
Trevor ReidTrevor Reid
1266
answered 11 mins ago
Trevor ReidTrevor Reid
1266
answered 11 mins ago
Trevor ReidTrevor Reid
1266
1266
add a comment |
add a comment |
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Anxious thoughts / concerns (personified) I'd guess, but more context is needed. The second 'care' seems to be care's care, which would make it care's constant attendance.
– Edwin Ashworth
Oct 8 '17 at 8:19
It feels like the first instance ought to mean ‘my ward’ (i.e., ‘the person who is in my care’), but Wikipedia’s description of the poem that it is a poem of unrequited love or failed marriage negotations would make that somewhat unlikely. Someone you’re hoping to marry isn’t really in your care, even if you are the queen. It may mean ‘grief’ or ‘perturbation’ instead, or indeed it may simply just mean ‘love’. I’m afraid we’re veering off into the area of literary interpretation here, however, which is explicitly off-topic on ELU. It may be better on Literature.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Oct 8 '17 at 11:26
This question belongs on another site in the Stack Exchange network.
– Edwin Ashworth
Oct 8 '17 at 15:16