Romeo and Juliet, true love?
Are Romeo and Juliet really the most romantic of all lovers? Or is their love more folly, infatuation and teenage angst?
Shakespeare, seduction and love
Saint Valentine was a Christian martyr who died in 269. He is the patron saint of lovers, engaged couples and happy marriages. He is generally represented in pictures with birds and roses surrounding him. On his saint day 14th February every year flowers and cards are sent anonymously by would be lovers in the hope of wooing their intended. Today two hundred million Roses are sold on St. Valentine's Day, and most of them are red. The red Rose is the symbol of passionate love and known the world over. So if its undying love you are expressing - it has to be red Roses.
The language of flowers started in the harems of the East. Here secrecy amongst lovers was essential as any manner of nasty things could happen if you were caught having an illicit affair. The language of flowers was a means of communication, each flower had a meaning and secret messages could be sent to a lover.
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Shakespeare, seduction and love
I still haven't been able to decide on a preferred Shakespeare quote on flowers, so until I do, here is an excerpt from the poem that is one of my two main reasons for loving violets:
WHERE, like a pillow on a bed,
A pregnant bank swell'd up, to rest
The violet's reclining head,
Sat we two, one another's best.
(John Donne, The Ecstasy)
My second reason for loving violets is Elizabeth Goudge's The Little White HorsePosted by Kathleen O'Neill 14 Feb 12 07:52 am