The Subliminal Message Within The Disappointment Riley Willoughby College

“His silent Griefs, swell up to Storms, And not one God, his Fury spares, He Curst his Birth, his Fate, his Stars, But more the Shepherdesses Charms ; Whose soft bewitching influence, Had Damn'd him to the Hell of Impotence.”

Within the confines of Aphra Behn’s poem, “The Disappointment,” there are subliminal messages involving how men blame their problems on others outwardly, while in reality, they know there is only themselves to blame along with a heavy focus on a the extent of a man’s ego, that is implemented throughout the final few lines of the poem. These lines in question seem to tie up the main thoughts in a manner to drive it home for the reader in an obvious sort of fashion. The voice itself seems almost mocking in a way, with a hint of sarcasm to leave the reader with an odd taste in their mouth upon reviewing the ending. That along with the free-flowing poetic meter given through the word choice, helps highlight the terms that should be viewed at first glance, helping to leave the correct impression upon the reader upon the conclusion of the poem.

The first interesting word choice would be within the beginning three words, “His silent Grief.” It almost gives off a paradoxical feeling, which implies the idea that...