Marriage a la mode

~Lifestyle~
Being a restauration comedy, Marriage a la mode its a portray of the social
and political life from the time. A comedy of manners, Drydens play satirizes the
manners and fashion of the aristocracy.
Well, known that during the 16
th
century, the French influence was in full
blossom; this is clearly seen in Drydens play, in which the characters frequently
use French words. Charmant, revisant and adieu are just a few words from
Melanthas vocabulary.The age in which marriage a la mode takes place is
described as an age when the libertinage and adultery are at their finest, problems
like usurpation, disguise of oneself and betrayal are nothing more than a way of life.
Melantha resembles the new and politically dangerous French mistress at
court, Louise de Kerouille (the mistress of Charles II of England) while Rudophil
can be the portray of the king itself.
In my opinion, the play is a subtle transposing of the times society, with his
flows and sins.
The songs in the play
The play contains two songs, both written in simple, blank verse: Why
should a foolish marriage vow and When Alexis lay prest.
The play debut with the first one, and its a short poem about marriage and
love. However, it does not present the happy and accomplished marriage, but its
the image of a marriage left without the feeling and pleasure. Its a typical poem of
Restauration, not romantic nor picturesque, but rather plain or dry.
The title of the poem is also the first vers; a question without a question
mark, a rethorical question whose answer is more then obvious. With this poem,
Dryden suggests that ones life should not be lead by a marriage vow or a weak
marriage.
The song begins with a question Why should a foolish marriage vow / Which
long ago was made/Oblige us to each other now/ When passion is decayed. The
lyrics are the monologue of a wife, monologue addressed to her husband. In other
words, why should they stick in a marriage where the passion is wasted and the
only thing linking the two I a vow made long ago.
The next passage of the poem suggests that they loved each other for long
and as long as they could. According to the wifes lament in the last two verses of
the first stanza, their marriage died at the same moment when the passion faded
away.
The second stanza begins with another question, giving a wider image of the
couples relationship. The wife is facing a dilemma, shes still in marriage but she
has pleasures for a friend,farther love in store.
The poet suggests that the husbands at fault for the fact that she developed
love for somebody else what wrong has he whos joys did end/ and who could give
no more
She also states that the husband shouldnt be angry or jealous of her as she
found love in another man. She has no passion left for the husband so she is fully
opened for him to be open for another woman.
The poem is painful, nobody wants to run out of love. And when that becomes
reality , pain creeps in. The wife concludes by saying all we can give is to give
ourselves pain. Her last line is more of a suggestion neither can hinder the other-
both of us can go our way, let the painful marriage end.

The second poem is performed somewhere in the middle of the play. This
second song portrays the love story between Coelia and Alexis.
This second poem is the perfect antithesis for the first one. If Why should a
foolish marriage vow is a representation of dead passion, this is the portray of a
blossoming, burning love. The poem begins with the image of the two lovers,
consuming their burning passion Whilst Alexis lay prest,/ In her arms he loved
best/ with his hands round her neck/and his head on her breast.
The love and happiness between the two is so deep and consuming, that is
almost breathtaking He found the fierce pleasure too hasty to stay,/ And his soul in
the tempest just flying away.
The whole poem suggests that the burning love will be the end of the couple.
We can notice a certain reference to Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet, due to the
tragic end of the lovers as suggested in Oh my dear, I am robbd of my bliss;/Tis
unkind to your Love, and unfaithfully done,/To leave me behind you, and die all
alone.Now die my Alexis and I will die too
The last verse of the poem The Nymph dyd more quick, and the Shepherd
more slow. Is a reference another poem: The passionate Shepherd to his love by
Christopher Marlove, as an answer to Sir Walter Raleighs response to it The
nymph reply to the Shepherd.
Regarding the characters of the poem, neither Alexis nor Coelia arent
involved in the actual play, their identity is somehow left to to be interpreted by any
of the readers. However, Coelia could be a reference to the Romes last virgin Vestal,
and also the last Vestalis Maxima (the head of the order), Coelia Concordia.
She is the best candidate for the character, given the meaning of the
Vestals. Vestals were girls chosen from resident families of Rome, to serve in the
temple of goddess Vasta, the goddess of family and earth. The chosen ones were
supposed to take a chastity oath, and during the 30 years spent in the temple they
were prohibited from any kind of sexual relationship or marriage. That is because,
when the girls were taken as Vestals, they gave up on their status as daughters of
their families and become daughters of society. In other words, having a
relationship with any citizen was considered incest.
Many Vestals were accused of breaking the vow of celibacy, which brought
them a severe punishment, that is to be buried alive.
What makes me think that the poems Coelia is a reference to the Vestals
Coelia is the fact that its said that if a vestal broke the oath, they will die willingly.
That mean they were ready to take resonsability for their actions, for their love
experience even if that means to die. And, in the poem, can be clearly seen that
Coelia is ready to die for the sake of love and the loved one.