Remember by Christina Rossetti

Overview of the poem

• Written in 1849 when Rossetti was 19

• Themes: Live, Death, Memory

• Written during the Romantic era

• Influence of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood

Summary

The speaker begins by asking her loved one to remember her when she is no longer alive, but she also suggests that if remembering her causes them pain, it would be better to forget. The speaker acknowledges that death is inevitable and that the living must move on. However, she expresses a desire to be remembered with love and affection.

As the poem progresses, the tone shifts. The speaker seems to accept the idea that her loved one may eventually find peace and happiness without her. She reassures them that it is okay for them to continue with their lives, even if they no longer remember her. The poem reflects the selflessness of the speaker's love, recognizing the need for both the living and the deceased to find peace.

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The speaker reflects on the inevitability of death and asks her loved one to remember her after she is gone, but also expresses a selfless wish that, if remembering causes pain, they should forget her and move on. The poem conveys the deep love the speaker has for the loved one and the desire for them to find peace, whether through remembrance or release.