Edna St. Vincent Millay's Sonnet II

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Edna St. Vincent Millay’s “Time does not bring relief,” also known as simply “Sonnet II”, explores the theme of a protagonist who cannot escape the memory of a loved who has left them in an ambiguous fashion. Millay disregards cliché that “time heals all wounds” as being a lie as the protagonist allows her grief and resurrected former feelings over the missing figure to control her actions after a year--”But last year’s bitter loving must remain /Heaped on my heart, and my old thoughts abide.” Throughout the year, the protagonist has longed for the loved one during the varied weather accompanied by the seasons. Regardless of the changing seasons, the subject cannot escape her dilemma. Not only does the central figure watch time go by, she refuses

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