Analysis of Christina Rossetti's 'Remember'

Exploring 'Remember' by Christina Rossetti

'Remember' is a poignant sonnet by Christina Rossetti, featured in her 1862 collection 'Goblin Market and Other Poems'. This Victorian poem delves into the profound themes of mortality, love, and the enduring power of memory. The speaker, presumably Rossetti herself, addresses a loved one, entreating them to keep her memory alive posthumously, yet also to prioritize their own happiness should her remembrance prove too burdensome. The sonnet is structured in the Petrarchan form, consisting of an octave and a sestet, with a pivotal volta that transitions the poem from an appeal for remembrance to a comforting acceptance of eventual forgetfulness.

The Structure of 'Remember': A Petrarchan Sonnet

'Remember' is crafted in the style of a Petrarchan sonnet, a form perfected by the Italian poet Francesco Petrarch. Comprising 14 lines, the sonnet is typically written in iambic pentameter, a metrical scheme with five pairs of alternating unstressed and stressed syllables. The sonnet is bifurcated into an octave with the rhyme scheme ABBAABBA, which sets up the argument or situation, and a sestet, following either CDECDE or CDCDCD patterns, which resolves or counters the octave. In 'Remember', the sestet follows a CDE EDE scheme. The volta, occurring after the octave, signifies a thematic or argumentative shift, which in this poem, moves from a plea for remembrance to an acknowledgment of the potential need to forget.

Poetic Techniques in 'Remember'

Christina Rossetti's 'Remember' is rich with literary and poetic devices that contribute to its emotional and thematic depth. Alliteration is used to create rhythm and focus on specific phrases, while apostrophe allows the speaker to directly address the absent beloved. The poem is laden with metaphorical language, such as the 'silent land' representing death or the afterlife, enhancing the poem's vivid imagery. Additionally, Rossetti employs a paradox to convey a complex truth: the initial plea for remembrance is juxtaposed with the notion that forgetting may be a mercy if remembrance causes pain.

Themes of Death, Memory, and Love in 'Remember'

The themes of 'Remember' are interwoven to reflect the speaker's contemplation of death, the role of memory, and the nature of love. Death is presented as an inevitable separation, prompting the speaker to consider the impact of her absence on shared experiences and the beloved's life. Memory is depicted as a means to transcend death, allowing the speaker to remain present in the beloved's thoughts. Yet, the poem also contemplates the potential anguish that such memories might evoke, suggesting that forgetting could be an act of kindness. Love is portrayed as a force that endures beyond physical existence, highlighting its ability to persist through the preservation of memory.

The Enduring Message of 'Remember'

Christina Rossetti's 'Remember' imparts a moving message on the intricacies of love and the nature of loss. Initially, the poem's tone is insistent, urging the beloved to cling to the speaker's memory. However, it evolves to prioritize the beloved's emotional well-being, even if it entails relinquishing painful recollections. This progression from a focus on being remembered to an emphasis on the beloved's happiness reveals a selfless love. 'Remember' continues to resonate with readers for its timeless themes and its nuanced exploration of the tension between the wish to be remembered and the recognition of the weight that memories can impose. Its mastery of form, evocative imagery, and profound insight ensure its lasting impact as a distinguished work of Victorian poetry.