Poetry Question

Samuel Johnson would view the poem Down, Wanton, Down! by Robert Graves as a seer of general and transcendental truths because the poem through the utilization of connotation, urges the reader to reflect on the issue of sexual behavior and the consequences that lie therein. The poem s sexual content and theme of the male gender typically not thinking things through prior to sexual intercourse reflects Samuel Johnson s belief that he estimate the happiness and misery of every condition, observe the power of all the passions in all their combinations In other words, the poem is written to enlighten the reader and have them consider right and wrong in their abstracted and variable state; as affirmed by Samuel Johnson.

The third strophe of the poem refers to the belief that all women should be treated delicately, which mirrors Johnson s belief that the business of a poet, is to examine, not the individual, but the species. Robert Graves understands sexuality and human behavior and writes the poem so that society puts lust aside and ponders the As described by Samuel Johnson, poetry should be more then colorful and pretty, it should have meaning and substance and allow readers to reflect in order to facilitate culture to grow and blossom.