“I cry and dare not show my displeasure” is a three-stanza poem written by Queen Elizabeth I that is said to feature Francis, the French Duke of Anjou as her beloved. Throughout her reign, Queen Elizabeth I received many suitors to obtain what England needed, including English nobles and foreign princes, but this poem is a testament to the fact that her relationship with the Duke of France seemed to be different and that their relationship was not limited to simple political interest. In 1579 the Duke and Elizabeth met secretly but news of the death of a friend interrupted the Duke's visit. Elizabeth, saddened by his sudden departure, wrote this poem to express her emotions. However, her feelings regarding the union were complicated because there was great opposition in England to the idea of ​​her marrying a man who was not only of French descent but also Catholic. It is obvious that the poem is about the inner conflict within her regarding what is expected of her as a queen and what her heart truly feels. So the question here is: how were the queen's emotions presented in this poem? Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay The opening stanza begins by defining the clash between Queen Elizabeth I's internal emotions and her public display through the use of antithesis. In the first two lines, the speaker's distressed nature is contrasted with her discontent and her love with her hatred. The use of phrases such as "don't dare" and "forced to" seem to suggest that she was forced to display the particular emotions mentioned and that they were contrary to her own. Therefore, these expressions can be used to distinguish between one's personal self and one's public self. In addition to this, the initial caesuras employed in the first three lines of the poem also serve as a type of boundary between his two selves. The lines are cleverly segmented in a 1:4 ratio; the first part describing his mental state and the second describing his public persona. It clearly shows how the speaker struggles to limit her private feelings so that she can prioritize her duties as a monarch. The contrast between the speaker's two personalities is further enhanced by the use of the words "mute" and "chatter" to illustrate how her emotions were the opposite of her public reaction of indifferent silence. “I am and I am not” insinuates that the speaker feels like her own person, but is never allowed to be because of her duty. On the other hand, the words “freeze” and “burn” give the indication that the speaker was emotionally hurt despite being responsible for the cold treatment of her loved one. In the last line of the stanza, the reader gets the impression that the loved one has been rejected by the speaker. Another interpretation could be that the speaker decided to reject her private self in favor of her public self. Essentially, in the first stanza, there is a strong allusion to the idea that as Queen, she is actually two different people whose thoughts and dreams are at odds with each other. In the second stanza, the Queen's emotions are presented as an unavoidable phenomenon. burden. Her “care” could be a possible reference to the anxiety she faced. The phrases “follows me flying” and “stands and lies next to me” and the word “shadow” help personify this negative emotion as a relentless stalker who only wants everything.just don't let the speaker go. However, the phrase "steals when I chase him" makes it clear that dealing with this oppressive "stalker" is not an option for the speaker. Her inability to escape this metaphorical "stalker" could mean that she had to experience constant grief and suffering. The use of the word "street" also perpetuates the negative trend of one's emotions throughout the life-long stanza. Alternatively, the word "care" could also be used to refer to the speaker's prudence or duty towards his kingdom. In this interpretation, the simile "ghost" means that her duty is inevitable and follows her in every aspect of her life. Regardless of understanding, the final couplet of the stanza leaves readers with a distinct idea of ​​how upset she is because she is unable to break free from "him." “Him” could refer either to his beloved, or to his duties, or to his anxiety. If he is referring to his beloved or his anxiety, the word "that" in the last line of the stanza could possibly refer to his romantic feelings for him, and the phrase "the end of things" would mean the end of their relationship. However, if "he" means her duties to her kingdom, the phrase "the end of things" would mean either her death or the end of her reign, as she will only be freed from her duties at that point. the emotional state is presented as having reached some form of resolution through the issuance of an ultimatum at the end of the final stanza. The phrase "softer passion" suggests that the speaker desires a reduction in the intensity of her feelings, and she justifies this desire by appealing to the reader in the next line by arguing that she is emotionally vulnerable. The presentation of her fragile emotional state is done through the metaphorical transfer of qualities when the speaker compares herself to “melting snow.” Additionally, the hiss achieved through the words "sweet" and "snow" creates a calming effect that helps to further humanize the speaker, allowing the reader to empathize with him. She proceeds by personifying love and pleading for him to be horrible to her as a form of kindness. Alternatively, the word "love" could also refer to one's beloved. The antithesis provided by the use of the words "cruel" and "kind" presents the paradoxical idea that if the speaker was treated unkindly, either in the guise of romance or by her beloved, it would could be considered a form of mercy, as it would. to be spared the crushing pain of unrealized mutual affection. Further antitheses can be found in the fourth line of the stanza through the phrases "either float or sink" and "be high or low", and this cements the idea that the speaker will not tolerate living in an in-between state . In the final verse, Queen Elizabeth I takes matters into her own hands by making a final offer: either let her fully experience the intensity of romantic love, or let her end her life without any feelings of romantic love. This provides a stark contrast to the helplessness of his situation as presented in the second stanza. The word "content" found in the penultimate line is also a direct contrast to the word "discontent", and this indicates that the speaker may have started the poem feeling upset, but has now found inner peace. Keep in mind: This is only a sample.Get a custom paper now from our expert writers.Get a custom essayOverall, the psychological state of the speaker is skillfully described through the use of devices literary such as personification and metaphors,.