Marriage in Christina Rossetti's Promises Like a Pie Crust and Poe's Wedding BalladIn Christina Rossetti's "Promises Like a Pie Crust" and Edgar Allan Poe's "Wedding Ballad," the speakers meet the milestone of marriage. Faced with strong pressures from society, Rossetti's speaker refuses marriage using three well-argued arguments veiled under the guise of superficiality. Conversely, Poe's speaker accepts the marriage, but by the end of the poem she realizes the disastrous consequences of her decision. Rossetti knows what she wants and what she doesn't want in life; subsequently, Rossetti realizes that personal satisfaction and even joy can exist without a man and thus makes the difficult decision not to marry. Poe's naive wife trusts society and does not marry for love but in order to achieve happiness. Failing to examine her inner thoughts or accept her apprehensions, Poe's wife is still not emotionally ready for marriage. A model of a 19th century woman, Poe's wife, despite her doubts, succumbs to marriage while Rossetti's strong-willed speaker vehemently rejects the institution. Poe's ostensible conformity clashes with Rossetti's independent spirit; however, societal pressures affect both women. Poe wrote “Bridal Ballad” in 1837 in America while Rossetti wrote “Promises Like Pie-Crust” in Victorian England; during both periods, society demands that women marry (Mayberry 11). By labeling the single woman as an “old maid” or “old maid,” society reinforces the idea that marriage alone leads to a state of bliss and happiness. Born and raised to marry, a woman's disruption of the cycle of marriage and then childbearing engenders not only a lack of respect from society, but also frightening uncertainty for the woman (Mayberry 11). ...... middle of paper ...... ed happiness. "Emotionally attached to her deceased lover, Poe's wife proves her inability to love anyone other than the dead D'Elormie. Citing several valid reasons, Rossetti avoids the decadent dessert while Poe's wife, deafened by society's expectations, ignores Rossetti's arguments, seeks marriage as a panacea, and chokes on his medicines Greenblatt, Stephen and MH Abrams "The Norton Anthology of English Literature 9e." ed. Vol. 2. New York: Norton, 2012. Print.Sova, Dawn B. Edgar Allan Poe's “Bridal Ballad”: A Literary Reference to His Life and Work, Critical Companion New York: Facts On File, Inc. ., 2007. Bloom's Literary Reference Online Facts On File, Inc. Web December 11. 2010.>.

Essay / Marriage in Christina Rossetti's Promises Like a Pie Crust and Poe's Wedding BalladIn Christina Rossetti's "Promises Like a Pie Crust" and Edgar Allan Poe's "Wedding Ballad," the speakers meet the milestone of marriage. Faced with strong pressures from society, Rossetti's speaker refuses marriage using three well-argued arguments veiled under the guise of superficiality. Conversely, Poe's speaker accepts the marriage, but by the end of the poem she realizes the disastrous consequences of her decision. Rossetti knows what she wants and what she doesn't want in life; subsequently, Rossetti realizes that personal satisfaction and even joy can exist without a man and thus makes the difficult decision not to marry. Poe's naive wife trusts society and does not marry for love but in order to achieve happiness. Failing to examine her inner thoughts or accept her apprehensions, Poe's wife is still not emotionally ready for marriage. A model of a 19th century woman, Poe's wife, despite her doubts, succumbs to marriage while Rossetti's strong-willed speaker vehemently rejects the institution. Poe's ostensible conformity clashes with Rossetti's independent spirit; however, societal pressures affect both women. Poe wrote “Bridal Ballad” in 1837 in America while Rossetti wrote “Promises Like Pie-Crust” in Victorian England; during both periods, society demands that women marry (Mayberry 11). By labeling the single woman as an “old maid” or “old maid,” society reinforces the idea that marriage alone leads to a state of bliss and happiness. Born and raised to marry, a woman's disruption of the cycle of marriage and then childbearing engenders not only a lack of respect from society, but also frightening uncertainty for the woman (Mayberry 11). ...... middle of paper ...... ed happiness. "Emotionally attached to her deceased lover, Poe's wife proves her inability to love anyone other than the dead D'Elormie. Citing several valid reasons, Rossetti avoids the decadent dessert while Poe's wife, deafened by society's expectations, ignores Rossetti's arguments, seeks marriage as a panacea, and chokes on his medicines Greenblatt, Stephen and MH Abrams "The Norton Anthology of English Literature 9e." ed. Vol. 2. New York: Norton, 2012. Print.Sova, Dawn B. Edgar Allan Poe's “Bridal Ballad”: A Literary Reference to His Life and Work, Critical Companion New York: Facts On File, Inc. ., 2007. Bloom's Literary Reference Online Facts On File, Inc. Web December 11. 2010.>.

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