'Twice' - Synopsis and commentary

Synopsis

The female speaker offers her heart to her beloved but he does not appreciate the gesture / does not believe her to be ready for such a commitment (or is not ready himself). She feels her heart is breaking and becomes depressed, before bringing her bruised heart to God.

She asks God to judge her accurately and perfect her love, knowing that her heart will be secure in his ‘hands'. Aware of her acceptance by God, with a renewed sense of optimism the speaker commits her whole life to him, willing to accept whatever it is that he asks her to do.

Commentary

Rossetti composed Twice in 1864 and first published it in her second book of poetry, The Prince's Progress and Other Poems. Although it speaks of the belief that God's love is better than man's, it is placed among the non-devotional poems at the start of the volume in view of its concentration on earthly love.

Forsaken women

Many of Rossetti's poems focus around the figure of the forsaken women. From the bride in the title poem of the volume, The Prince's Progress, who is left waiting until her death for the arrival of her prince, to the misunderstood L.E.L., the forsaken women in Rossetti's poems express their struggle to find a voice in which they can communicate their distress.

Many male Victorian poets present the figure of the male beloved or bridegroom as a noble, chivalrous figure. However, by highlighting the weaknesses that can be identified in many males, Rossetti points to the fact that women are not wholly to blame for relational difficulties and challenges the sexual double standard (see Social / political context > The status of women > Sexual double standards).

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