What Thing Is Love? by George Peele: Summary, Analysis & Themes

"What Thing Is Love?" by George Peele is a playful and lyrical exploration of love's paradoxical nature. Peele, a poet and playwright of the late 16th century, captures love's duality as both delightful and painful. The poem reflects Renaissance ideals, blending mythological allusions with a whimsical tone, making it a timeless meditation on the power and mystery of love.

What Thing Is Love? by George Peele

What thing is love? for sure love is a thing.
It is a prick, it is a sting,
It is a pretty, pretty thing;
It is a fire, it is a coal,
Whose flame creeps in at every hole;

And as my wit doth best devise,
Love's dwelling is in ladies' eyes,
From whence do glance love's piercing darts,
That make such holes into our hearts;
And all the world herein accord,
Love is a great and mighty lord;
And when he list to mount so high,
With Venus he in heaven doth lie,
And evermore hath been a god,
Since Mars and she played even and odd.

Summary of What Thing Is Love?

This poem ponders the nature of love, describing it as a complex and paradoxical force. The speaker portrays love as both delightful and painful, likening it to a prick, a sting, and a fire that consumes its victims. Love’s power resides in the eyes of ladies, from where it launches metaphorical darts that wound hearts. The speaker elevates love to divine status, referring to it as a mighty lord who dwells among the gods, particularly with Venus, the goddess of love. The final lines allude to the mythological union of Mars and Venus, symbolizing love’s eternal and divine nature.

1. Love as paradoxical: The poem introduces love as simultaneously painful and beautiful.
2. Love’s source: It resides in the eyes of women, from which it exerts its power.
3. Love’s divinity: The poem aligns love with mythological gods, emphasizing its grandeur and timelessness.

Analysis of What Thing Is Love?

George Peele employs metaphor and mythology to explore the multifaceted nature of love. The poem’s playful tone contrasts with the sharp imagery of love as a "prick" and "sting," emphasizing the dual nature of romantic experience. By likening love to fire and coal, Peele highlights its consuming and pervasive qualities. The reference to "ladies' eyes" situates love in the realm of courtly traditions, where romantic ideals often center on the gaze as a source of power and allure.

The poem’s allusions to Venus and Mars elevate love to a divine and eternal status. Peele reflects on love's transformative power, suggesting that it transcends human experience to touch the divine. The phrase "played even and odd" implies both the playfulness and the tension in love’s dynamics, capturing its unpredictable nature. This synthesis of physical sensation and divine metaphor creates a rich tapestry that resonates with Renaissance sensibilities.

1. Metaphors of love: Love is likened to sharp, consuming forces that bring both pleasure and pain.
2. Mythological references: Venus and Mars symbolize love’s divine and eternal aspects.
3. Contrasts in tone: The poem juxtaposes playful language with intense imagery, reflecting love's complexity.

Themes in What Thing Is Love?

The themes of this poem revolve around love’s paradoxical nature, its divine qualities, and its emotional power. Peele explores the duality of love as both a source of pleasure and pain. The mythological allusions position love as a force that transcends the mortal realm, linking human emotions with the divine. Additionally, the poem examines love’s influence through the physical senses, particularly sight, suggesting its ability to pierce the heart and leave lasting emotional marks.

1. Paradox of love: Love is both delightful and painful, a contradiction central to its power.
2. Divine nature of love: Love is elevated to god-like status, eternal and transcendent.
3. Physical and emotional impact: Love exerts its influence through the senses, particularly the eyes, leaving a deep emotional impression.

Structure of What Thing Is Love?

The poem’s structure is lyrical and rhythmic, making use of short, rhyming lines that contribute to its whimsical tone. The rhyme scheme (AABBCC, etc.) creates a musical quality, enhancing the playful yet reflective mood. Peele’s use of repetition, as in "it is a" and "love is," reinforces the central theme of defining love. The poem concludes with a mythological reference, lending a sense of resolution and emphasizing the eternal nature of love. The compact stanzas and rhythmic flow make the poem memorable and engaging.

1. Rhyme and rhythm: The AABBCC rhyme scheme gives the poem a musical, light-hearted quality.
2. Repetition for emphasis: The repeated phrases draw attention to love’s varied descriptions.
3. Mythological conclusion: The final lines anchor the poem in timeless, divine imagery.