What Would I Give

Reference to Ezekiel

A famous passage in Ezekiel 36:26 where God promises to remove a ‘heart of stone’ and give his people a ‘heart of flesh’. The heart of flesh signifies an ability to see a new delight in God, understand truth and have a new spirit that loves him.

Link with The Protestant reform act

‘What would i give for tears, not smiles but scalding tears’

The idea that this comes with eternal punishment, many see hell as a state of mind as well as a physical place, a consequence for removing yourself from God. The 1832 Protestant Reform Act allowed Protestants to practice their faith openly, they were worried their faith was becoming too secular. Possible Calvinist view: no redemption but eternal damnation. Rossetti was a strict Protestant Christian.

Context of poem

1864> 34 yrs

Growing relationship with Charles Cayley, an agonistic, likely batteling between the relationship and her duty towards God.

Form

Tercets (3 line stanzas), may represent the Holy Trinity

RS: AAB throughout, consistency may reflect speakers consistent regret or longing to be saved

Rhythm: irregular = discomfort, the internal rhyme highlights the permanence of the speakers actions