Critical Analysis Of George Herbert's 'Love (III'

George Herbert’s poem ‘Love (III),’ published posthumously in a collection of his works entitled The Temple, centres around a dialogue between two characters. The characters are that of Love and an unnamed speaker, who most likely represents Herbert himself. Love, an abstract principle, is here the personification of God and exists as a tangible entity. In ‘Love (III),’ Love is acting as host to the unknown guest, who henceforth will be called the guest. This essay will discuss the poem’s argument, as well as the language and literary techniques Herbert utilises to reinforce his argument.

The poem is formatted into three stanzas, each consisting of six alternating lines with the first line containing ten syllables and the next six syllables. The poem’s form makes it so each line is distinct from the rest, consequently making every line noticeable to the reader’s eye. This highlights a recurring theme in the poem, that of the number three. The poem itself is the third and final of a group of poem, all entitled ‘Love.’ Three is an important number in Christianity as it represents the Holy Trinity. Furthermore, the poem’s title, ‘Love,’ is commonly used by Christians when referring to God. For example, the OED defines love, when used in a religious sense, as “the benevolence and affection of God towards

The reader knows that Love has “bade” the guest “welcome” through Herbert’s use of reported speech, but we do not hear Love’s actual voice until after the guest has first spoken. This accentuates both the intangibility of Love and the earthliness of the guest. Love belongs in heaven, however the guest does not, at this particular time, feel worthy enough. This mirrors Herbert’s own struggles with his faith and fears of not being fit to enter