“To Lucasta Going to The Wars” by Richard Lovelace: A Critical Analysis

Introduction: “To Lucasta Going to The Wars” by Richard Lovelace

“To Lucasta, Going to the Wars” by Richard Lovelace, first published in his 1649 collection titled Lucasta, is a classic example of Cavalier poetry, a style known for its lightheartedness, wit, and focus on themes of love and honor. The speaker in this poem playfully justifies his decision to leave his beloved for the battlefield by arguing that his love for honor supersedes his romantic love.

Text: “To Lucasta Going to The Wars” by Richard Lovelace

Annotations: “To Lucasta Going to The Wars” by Richard Lovelace

Stanza 1	Stanza 2	Stanza 3
The speaker addresses Lucasta, reassuring her that his departure to war does not stem from any unkindness towards her. He describes her as a “nunnery” of chastity and peace, contrasting her serene demeanor with the conflict and violence of war to which he is drawn.	The speaker acknowledges his departure from Lucasta to pursue a new mistress—war. He refers to war as his “first foe” and expresses his commitment to it with greater fervor than he ever did to Lucasta.	The speaker explains his apparent fickleness by stating that his devotion to honor and duty surpasses his love for Lucasta. He suggests that she too will come to admire this commitment, even though it means he cannot love her as much as he loves honor.

This poem is rich with imagery and metaphor, depicting the conflict between love and duty, as well as the speaker’s unwavering commitment to honor and valor.

Literary and Poetic Devices: “To Lucasta Going to The Wars” by Richard Lovelace

Device	Example	Explanation
1. Apostrophe	“Tell me not (Sweet) I am unkind…”	The speaker addresses Lucasta directly, though she is not present, expressing his thoughts and feelings to her.
2. Metaphor	“That from the nunnery Of thy chaste breast and quiet mind…”	The comparison of Lucasta’s demeanor to a “nunnery” suggests her purity, tranquility, and devotion to chastity.
3. Personification	“A new mistress now I chase…”	War is personified as a “mistress,” implying a passionate pursuit and dedication to the cause of battle.
4. Alliteration	The first foe in the field	The repetition of the “f” sound.
5. Assonance	“Yet this inconstancy is such…”	The repetition of the short “i” sound in “inconstancy” and “is” creates a rhythmic and melodic effect in the line.
6. Simile	“And with a stronger faith embrace A sword, a horse, a shield.”	The comparison of the speaker’s embrace of war to a “stronger faith” suggests a deep and unwavering commitment.
7. Hyperbole	“I could not love thee (Dear) so much…”	The exaggeration of the speaker’s love for honor compared to his love for Lucasta emphasizes his devotion to duty.
8. Enjambment	“Yet this inconstancy is such As you too shall adore; I could not love thee (Dear) so much, Lov’d I not Honour more.”	The continuation of the thought from one line to the next without a pause or break creates a flowing rhythm.
9. Imagery	“To war and arms I fly.”	The vivid description of the speaker “flying” to war creates a strong visual image of his departure for battle.
10. Symbolism	“A sword, a horse, a shield.”	These items symbolize the tools and equipment of war, representing the speaker’s readiness for battle.
11. Allusion	“To Lucasta, Going to the Wars”	The title alludes to the subject matter of the poem, indicating that the speaker is addressing Lucasta about his departure for war.
12. Repetition	“Lov’d I not Honour more.”	The repetition of “Lov’d I not” emphasizes the speaker’s prioritization of honor over love.
13. Oxymoron	“A nunnery Of thy chaste breast and quiet mind”	The juxtaposition of “nunnery” with “chaste” and “quiet mind” creates a contrast, highlighting Lucasta’s purity and serenity.
14. Anaphora	“True, a new mistress now I chase, And with a stronger faith embrace”	The repetition of “And” at the beginning of successive lines emphasizes the speaker’s commitment to his new pursuit.
15. Antithesis	“To war and arms I fly.” / “To war and arms I fly.”	The juxtaposition of “war” with “arms” highlights the speaker’s departure for battle, emphasizing action and conflict.

Themes: “To Lucasta Going to The Wars” by Richard Lovelace

1. Honor vs. Love: The central tension in the poem is the conflict between the speaker’s love for Lucasta and his perceived duty to pursue honor and glory on the battlefield. He initially appears to apologize for leaving, saying, “Tell me not (Sweet) I am unkind,” but then justifies his choice by claiming, “I could not love thee (Dear) so much,/ Lov’d I not Honour more.” This highlights the societal expectations of the time, where a man’s honor and duty to his country were often placed above personal love.
2. The Idealization of War: The speaker romanticizes war, envisioning it as a path to glory and a grand adventure. He refers to his pursuit of honor as a “new mistress,” and describes the battlefield with imagery of trumpets and feathers. This portrayal reflects the Cavalier tendency to depict war with a sense of gallantry and excitement, masking its true horrors.
3. The Fleeting Nature of Love: The speaker suggests that his love for Lucasta could become tainted over time if he stayed at home. He argues that staying would cause their love to grow “dull” and mundane. By leaving, he believes he is paradoxically preserving their love by injecting excitement and potential sacrifice.
4. Carpe Diem (Seize the Day): Underlying the poem is a subtle sense of urgency characteristic of Carpe Diem poetry. The speaker’s decision to leave for war reminds the reader of life’s brevity. He argues for embracing adventure and risk, implying that it’s better to live a short but glorious life than to settle for a long and uninspiring one.

Literary Theories and “To Lucasta Going to The Wars” by Richard Lovelace

Literary Theory	Explanation	Example from the Poem
1. New Criticism	Focuses on analyzing the text itself, independent of its author’s intentions or historical context. Emphasizes close reading to uncover meaning.	Examining the imagery and metaphors in the poem to understand the speaker’s conflicting emotions towards love and duty.
2. Feminist Criticism	Examines literature through the lens of gender dynamics, power structures, and representation of women. Seeks to uncover how gender roles influence the text.	Analyzing Lucasta’s portrayal and her relationship with the speaker in the context of societal expectations for women.
3. Psychoanalytic Criticism	Explores the unconscious motivations, desires, and conflicts of characters and authors. Looks for symbolic meaning and hidden psychological elements in the text.	Interpreting the speaker’s departure for war as a manifestation of internal conflict between love for Lucasta and duty.
4. Historical Criticism	Considers the historical context in which the text was written, including the author’s life, social and political events, and cultural norms of the time period.	Examining how Lovelace’s experiences during the English Civil War influenced his portrayal of war and love in the poem.
5. Reader-Response Criticism	Focuses on the reader’s interpretation and experience of the text, acknowledging that meaning is created through the interaction between reader and text.	Considering how different readers might interpret the speaker’s departure for war and his relationship with Lucasta based on their own experiences and perspectives.

Topics, Questions and Thesis Statements: “To Lucasta Going to The Wars” by Richard Lovelace

Themes:

• The Conflict Between Love and Duty
• Honor and Loyalty in Times of War
• Gender Roles and Expectations in 17th Century England

Questions:

• How does Lovelace explore the theme of the conflict between love and duty in the poem?
• What role does honor play in the speaker’s decision to go to war, and how does it affect his relationship with Lucasta?
• In what ways does the poem reflect societal expectations regarding gender roles and relationships during the 17th century?

Thesis Statements:

• The poem “To Lucasta, Going to The Wars” by Richard Lovelace portrays the internal struggle of the speaker torn between his love for Lucasta and his sense of duty and honor to go to war.
• Lovelace uses the imagery of war and love to depict the complexities of loyalty and sacrifice, highlighting the speaker’s unwavering commitment to honor above all else.
• Through the character of Lucasta and the speaker’s relationship with her, Lovelace explores the constraints of gender roles and societal expectations in 17th century England, particularly in the context of wartime.

Short Questions/Answers about “To Lucasta Going to The Wars” by Richard Lovelace

Question	Answer
How does the speaker’s tone shift throughout the poem?	The speaker begins with an apologetic tone (“Tell me not (Sweet) I am unkind”), but quickly shifts to a tone of justification and even bravado as he prioritizes honor over love.
What is the significance of the “new mistress” metaphor?	The metaphor portrays war not as a horror but as a thrilling and desirable pursuit. It also highlights the tension between the speaker’s love for Lucasta and his perceived social obligation to serve in battle.
Does the speaker truly believe his love for Lucasta would weaken if he stayed?	This is open to interpretation. It’s possible he’s masking his own fear of losing her with a romanticized notion of war, or he might genuinely believe their love requires distance to thrive.
How does the poem exemplify characteristics of Cavalier poetry?	It focuses on themes of love and honor with a lighthearted and witty tone. The speaker’s language is elegant and playful, downplaying the realities of war.

Literary Works Similar to “To Lucasta Going to The Wars” by Richard Lovelace

1. “Song to Celia” by Ben Jonson: This poem shares the Cavalier emphasis on love and the speaker’s willingness to sacrifice personal desires for higher ideals and expressions of passion.
2. “Why So Pale and Wan Fond Lover?” by Sir John Suckling: Another Cavalier poem that explores the tension between love and other pursuits. The speaker questions a lovelorn friend, arguing for a more carefree approach to life and romance.
3. “The Charge of the Light Brigade” by Alfred Lord Tennyson: While written much later, this poem also reflects the romanticization of war and glorifies a soldier’s duty in the face of certain death.
4. “Dulce et Decorum Est” by Wilfred Owen: This World War I poem offers a stark contrast to Lovelace’s depiction of war. Owen vividly portrays the horrors of battle, directly challenging any glorification of armed conflict.
5. “Anthem for Doomed Youth” by Wilfred Owen: Another war poem by Owen that acts as a counterpoint to Cavalier poems. It presents war as a tragedy, lamenting the loss of young lives and questioning the heroic narrative.

Suggested Readings for Further Analysis of “To Lucasta Going to The Wars” by Richard Lovelace

Primary Source:

• Lovelace, Richard. “To Lucasta, Going to the Wars.” Lucasta. London: Thomas Harper, 1649. Print.

Secondary Sources

Books:

• Crofts, Thomas, ed. The Cavalier Poets: An Anthology. Courier Corporation, 1995. This book offers a comprehensive analysis of Cavalier poetry, placing Lovelace’s work within its literary and historical context.
• Norbrook, David. Poetry and Politics in the English Renaissance. 2nd ed., Oxford University Press, 2002. This work explores the political motivations behind poetry of the period, providing insight into themes of honor and duty present in “To Lucasta, Going to the Wars.”

Articles:

• Kerrigan, William. Criticism, vol. 14, no. 4, 1972, pp. 390–96. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/23099070. Accessed 13 Apr. 2024.

Website:

• Poetry Foundation: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44658/to-lucasta-going-to-the-wars Offers background on the poem, a reading of the text, and additional analysis.