03. CE 201 - When I'm Dead, my Dearest by Christina Rossetti
Channel: Ishan Marvel
Date: 2020-09-08

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTSoWRKkWJTYMu6FhrV9JzlNVJaRU4HeI
CHRISTINA ROSSETTI (1830-94)
* Born into a family of artists, including her famous brother Dante Gabriel Rossetti
* Her first poem was published in 'The Germ' -- a magazine co-founded by Dante and other members of the Pre-Raphaelite movement.
* 'Goblin Market and Other Poems' (1862) is considered a seminal feminist work.

When I'm Dead, my Dearest
A simple yet profound poem that reflects on the nature of death and love. Though the poem is rooted in deep emotions, it does not get melodramatic or resort to false sentimentality. It shows an acceptance rather than fear of death, and of no longer being able to experience the sensory pleasures of earthly life. The speaker is rather indifferent about her and her lover's post-death state, which provides a stark contrast to the usual portrayal of female submissiveness and sentimentality that is seen in other writings of the time.