Depiction of Valentine's Day in Classic Literature

Valentine’s Day, a celebration of love and romance, has been depicted in various ways in classic literature. Authors have used the occasion as a backdrop to explore themes of affection, courtship, heartbreak, and even social commentary. Below is an exploration of how classic literature has approached Valentine’s Day.

1. Historical Context of Valentine’s Day in Literature

Valentine's Day originates from the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia and its Christian reinterpretation honoring Saint Valentine. By the Middle Ages, the day became associated with courtly love, which inspired many poets and writers.

• Geoffrey Chaucer is often credited with associating Valentine's Day with romantic love in his 14th-century poem "Parliament of Fowls". Chaucer writes:

  "For this was on Saint Valentine’s Day,
  When every bird cometh there to choose his mate." Here, Chaucer uses the day as a metaphorical framework for the gathering of birds to select their mates, symbolizing human courtship.

2. Valentine's Day as a Romantic Motif

Many classical authors used Valentine’s Day as a setting to delve into themes of romance and relationships. It often served as a catalyst for emotional revelations or plot development:

• William Shakespeare: In Shakespeare’s plays, Valentine’s Day is sometimes referenced symbolically. For example, in "Hamlet," Ophelia laments in her madness:

  "To-morrow is Saint Valentine’s day,
  All in the morning betime,
  And I a maid at your window,
  To be your Valentine." Ophelia’s lines tie the day to themes of unfulfilled love and innocence lost, portraying Valentine’s Day in a tragic light.

• Elizabeth Barrett Browning: In her collection "Sonnets from the Portuguese," the poetic expressions of love align with the themes of Valentine’s Day, celebrating romantic passion and eternal devotion.

3. Satirical and Cynical Takes on Valentine’s Day

Not all depictions of Valentine’s Day in literature are celebratory. Some authors use it as an opportunity for satire or critique of societal norms surrounding love and relationships:

• Jane Austen: While Austen does not explicitly write about Valentine’s Day, her novels often reflect on the societal pressures of courtship and romantic expectations. Her heroines, like Elizabeth Bennet in "Pride and Prejudice," could be seen as rebelling against the superficial rituals often associated with romantic celebrations.

• Thomas Hardy: In "Far from the Madding Crowd," the exchange of Valentine’s Day tokens has significant consequences. Bathsheba Everdene sends a valentine to Farmer Boldwood with the words "Marry me" as a joke, sparking a chain of dramatic events that highlight the complexities and dangers of romantic gestures.

4. Valentine's Day in Victorian Literature

The Victorian era saw a flourishing of Valentine’s Day themes, reflecting the era’s romanticism and fascination with sentimentality:

• Christina Rossetti: In her poem "A Valentine’s Song," Rossetti captures the tender and whimsical spirit of the day:

  "Winter freezes, Love is warm,
  Winter bleak, but Love is bright;
  Winter is a short-lived storm,
  Love is God and Heaven and light." This portrays Valentine’s Day as a hopeful celebration amidst the harshness of winter.

5. Modernist and Postmodern Approaches

As literature evolved, Valentine’s Day was sometimes portrayed with a modernist or postmodern lens, emphasizing its commercialization or the complexities of love in a fractured world.

• E. E. Cummings: His love poems, while not specifically tied to Valentine’s Day, embody the unconventional romantic spirit that could be associated with the holiday, blending playfulness with profound emotion.

• James Joyce: In "Ulysses," Joyce’s exploration of relationships, intimacy, and longing captures the spirit of love that Valentine’s Day symbolizes, even if not directly referenced.

6. Common Themes in Valentine’s Day Depictions

Across classic literature, recurring themes in Valentine’s Day depictions include:

• Courtship and Mating Rituals: Highlighting the universal desire for companionship.

• Romantic Idealism vs. Realism: Contrasting sentimental love with the complexities of human relationships.

• Satire of Love: Critiquing societal conventions and the commercialization of love.

Valentine’s Day in classic literature serves as a mirror to societal attitudes toward love, offering insights into the romantic ideals and challenges of different eras. Whether celebrated as a symbol of pure affection, used as a device for satire, or explored with tragic overtones, Valentine’s Day remains a powerful motif in the literary canon.

Readers looking to explore these themes will find a treasure trove of works that illuminate the enduring allure and complexity of love.