A Valediction: Forbidden Mourning

BY: KIMBERLY, CRISTIAN, PRINCESS, AND ANDREA

Central Claim/Theme

The central claim or theme of this poem is that mo matter the

distance, true love will remain strong.

Summary of the Text

In this poem a man is constantly traveling around the world and his wife is worried about him and questions the strength of their love. He writes this poem to assure her that he loves her and that they are

soulmates and no matter how far he goes their love will remain strong.

Textual evidence from the poem that connects to the central claim

"As stiff twin compasses are two:Thy soul, the fixed foot, makes no showTo move, but doth, if the other do;"

"Our two souls therefore, which are one,

Though I must go, endure not yetA breach, but an expansion.Like gold to airy thinness beat."

Just like a compass, when one foot opens up, the center always follows. When the foot comes back, the center goes along with it.

Separation between this couple is impossible because they claim to be soul mates. They are connected by thin strands of gold.

Central Claim Connection to The Crucible

The central claim connects to The Crucible because near the end when John decides not

to sign his confession, which leads to his hanging, Elizabeth still supports his decision because she loves him and knows that no

matter the distance there love remains strong, even in death.

Textual Evidence that connect The Crucible to the central claim of the given text

" Suspicion kissed you when I did; I never knew how I should say my love" (Miller, 137).

This connects to the central claim of the given text because it shows that no matter how suspicious Elizabeth is she still loves Proctor and wants to protect their marriage.

"He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him." (Miller, 145).

This shows that no matter how far the distance between Elizabeth and Proctor is, Elizabeth still showed that she loves Proctor by supporting his decisions. It also shows that they have forgiven each other and John Proctor turns out as a credible person.

Textual Evidence that connect The Crucible to the central claim of the given text

"John, it come to naught that I should forgive you, if you'll not forgive yourself...It is not my soul, John, it is yours...Only be sure of this, for I know it now: Whatever you will do, it is a good man does it...I have read my heart this three month, John... I have sins of my own to count. It needs a cold wife to prompt lechery.' " (Miller, 137 ). This connects to the central claim of the

given text because it shows that no matter what John decides, Elizabeth will support him and she is an equal partner in their marriage and in the conflicts between them. She truly loves him and no distance, not even death, can divide them.

Proctor says, "Give them no tear! Tears pleasure them! Show honor now, show a stony heart and sink them with it!" (144)

This connects to the central claim because Proctor tells Elizabeth not to cry, and that they are beneath them in character. Their marriage, based on truth and love, is what's honorable.