Repetition, Tone, and Images in "First Love"

Repetition, Tone and Images in "First Love"

John Clare's "First Love" is about Mary Joyce, the first person he ever loved ("John

Clare"). He had met her at school around 1803 (when he was ten) and developed a school boy

crush on her. Clare was poor and Mary was not, her father would not allow anything to happen

between them. He eventually married another woman, Martha Turner, in 1820. His poetry wasn't

selling as well and he found that he couldn't feed his children. He became very depressed and his

mental health began to deteriorate. He had become a burden to his wife and seven children and

was recommended by a friend to go to the Northampton General Lunatic Asylum, where he went

willingly in 1837. There, he was under the delusion that he was married to his first love, Mary

Joyce. The poem, presumably written in his early years in the asylum (around 1841), reflects on

the tragedy of this unrequited love; a love that had no future. Through repetition of words,

changes of tone and dark images, Clare gives us a beautiful poem about pain and lost love.

Repetition is used quite often in this poem. Words such as love, sweet and heart are

contrasted with the darkness of blood. Love is mentioned three times, less than expected as it is

the title of the poem. It's the main subject of the poem but why is it said only three times? The

love that seemed so strong at the beginning appears to be gone by the end of the poem. It starts

out so optimistic; it's "so sudden and so sweet" (line 2). He experienced love at first sight when

he met her and all he saw was the good in love. However, when love is used...