Death is one surefire way to ruin any relationship. The lovers of "The Blessed Damozel" are no exception to this rule. Death essentially creates the ultimate long-distance relationship challenge. These two have to figure out how to keep the flame alive when one of them is way up in heaven and the other is stuck back down on Earth. Amazingly, they do seem to carry a torch for each other—even after ten years of separation. The trick, of course, is figuring out if the living lover will be able to make it into heaven once death has come for him.
Questions About Death
- Do you think these lovers would feel the same way if they were both alive, just living in different parts of the world? How can you tell?
- How does the promise of the afterlife both defeat and enhance the obstacle that death puts between these lovers?
- Can true love defeat death? How do you think the poem's characters might respond to that question?
Chew on This
Death is just a dramatic way of describing distance in this poem. Any couple could face the same challenges as the lovers in "The Blessed Damozel." They just have to live apart to do so.
The most inspiring message of this poem is that death has no power over true love. It lasts for eternity.