Edmund Spenser’s Epithalamion and Prothalamion are celebrated wedding poems that both honor marriage, love, and beauty, but differ in their themes, tones, and purposes. Composed in the late 16th century, Epithalamion is a lyrical celebration of Spenser’s own wedding, filled with personal joy and anticipation. In contrast, Prothalamion was written as a commissioned piece for the weddings of two aristocratic sisters, the daughters of the Earl of Worcester, making it a more public, formal ode. These works showcase Spenser’s skill in adapting poetic traditions to different occasions, while collectively presenting a rich portrayal of the ideals and rituals surrounding marriage in Elizabethan society.
1) Purpose and Occasion: Personal vs. Public
Epithalamion is a deeply personal celebration, written by Spenser to commemorate his own wedding to Elizabeth Boyle. Spenser fills the poem with intimate details and a sense of private joy and excitement, expressing his love and devotion. The poem is steeped in a personal tone, as it reflects the poet’s own emotions and anticipation surrounding the union. Spenser invokes the gods, nature, and mythological figures to bless his marriage, lending a sacred and exalted tone to the proceedings. The poem’s structure aligns with the stages of the wedding day, moving from morning to night, capturing the entire experience of the marriage ceremony.
In contrast, Prothalamion is a commissioned poem written to honor the impending marriages of Lady Elizabeth and Lady Katherine Somerset. As a public celebration, it lacks the personal intimacy of Epithalamion, focusing instead on the dignity and grace of the two brides. Spenser pays tribute to their beauty and nobility, emphasizing their family’s high social standing. Rather than centering on the poet’s personal emotions, Prothalamion is more formal and distant, designed to honor the families involved rather than explore Spenser’s inner feelings. This more public tone distinguishes Prothalamion as a traditional wedding ode rather than a personal declaration of love.
2) Themes of Love and Union
Both poems explore the theme of love and union, though they do so from different perspectives. Epithalamion is infused with Spenser’s romantic idealism, expressing the sacredness of marriage as a union blessed by divine and natural forces. Spenser portrays love as an exalted, almost spiritual connection between himself and his bride, one that transcends physical attraction and carries divine sanction. This idealized view of love reflects Spenser’s belief in the sanctity of marriage, underscoring the idea that his union with Elizabeth is not only romantic but also spiritually significant.
In Prothalamion, love is portrayed more ceremonially. The emphasis is on harmony, family honor, and social alliances rather than the personal romantic connection between the brides and their grooms. Love, in this context, is tied to tradition, duty, and the perpetuation of noble lineage. While Epithalamion focuses on the emotional, almost mystical aspects of love, Prothalamion presents love as a social construct, an arrangement that reinforces family ties and social order. This difference in perspective illustrates how Spenser adapts his treatment of love to suit the specific context of each poem: a personal celebration versus a public honor.
3) Use of Mythology and Classical Allusions
Spenser employs rich mythological imagery in both poems, but with different emphasis and intent. In Epithalamion, he invokes deities like Venus, Juno, and Hymen to bless his marriage, imbuing his wedding with divine favor. These mythological references highlight the sacredness of his love and the protection of his marriage by the gods. The classical allusions elevate the personal experience, lending it universal significance and aligning Spenser’s union with timeless ideals of love and matrimony.
In Prothalamion, the mythological references are less personal and more symbolic of purity, beauty, and harmony. The poem opens with a reference to “sweet Thames” and invokes the pastoral setting associated with classical odes. Spenser describes the brides as “swan-like” figures, echoing classical images of grace and nobility. The swans are reminiscent of classical myths and symbolically associate the brides with purity and elegance. By using mythological allusions, Spenser reinforces the aristocratic and dignified nature of the occasion. These classical images in Prothalamion serve to enhance the beauty and status of the Somerset sisters, focusing less on intimate love and more on the grandeur of their marriages.
4) Structure and Form: Day vs. River Motif
Epithalamion is structured around the progression of a wedding day, capturing the events from dawn until night. This structure mirrors the passage of time during the wedding and creates a sense of immediacy and presence. Each stanza represents a different moment of the day, moving from morning preparations to the marriage ceremony, the evening feast, and finally to the consummation of the marriage at night. This temporal structure emphasizes the unity of time, love, and marriage, highlighting the poet’s personal involvement and the ritual significance of each stage of the day.
In Prothalamion, the structure revolves around the Thames River, symbolizing continuity and flow. Spenser uses the river as a central motif, describing the gentle, flowing water as a metaphor for the serene beauty of the wedding ceremony. The river’s movement reflects the journey of the brides and the enduring nature of noble lineage. Unlike Epithalamion, which is confined to a single day, Prothalamion adopts a more fluid, timeless quality, representing the legacy and continuity of noble families. The river motif creates a sense of elegance and grace, befitting the formal tone of the poem and distinguishing it from the more structured, time-bound form of Epithalamion.
5) Tone and Mood
The tone of Epithalamion is celebratory, intimate, and joyful, as Spenser expresses his happiness and hopes for a blessed marriage. The poem is marked by a sense of personal joy and reverence, reflecting Spenser’s heartfelt emotions on his wedding day. The language is passionate and sincere, conveying the depth of his love for Elizabeth and his hope for a harmonious and lasting union.
In contrast, the tone of Prothalamion is formal and stately, reflecting the poem’s role as a commissioned piece. While the poem is celebratory, it lacks the personal intensity of Epithalamion, focusing instead on the grace, beauty, and dignity of the brides. The mood is serene and restrained, appropriate for the noble occasion and Spenser’s role as an observer rather than a participant. This difference in tone underscores the distinct nature of each poem: one as an intimate expression of personal love, the other as a formal ode to aristocratic marriage.
Conclusion
Epithalamion and Prothalamion both celebrate marriage, yet each presents a unique perspective that reflects its purpose and audience. Epithalamion is an intimate, passionate portrayal of Spenser’s own wedding, rich with personal emotion and reverence for the sanctity of marriage. Prothalamion, on the other hand, is a public, ceremonial work that honors aristocratic marriage, with an emphasis on lineage, grace, and social harmony. Through these contrasting approaches, Spenser demonstrates his mastery of adapting poetic form and tone to different contexts, using each poem to celebrate the institution of marriage in ways that are personal, social, and timeless.