Promises are like pie-crust, made to be broken

 [Talking with the Text 17.

 Activity Text: “Promises are like pie-crust, made to be broken” (Christina Georgina Rossetti)]

Promises like Pie-Crust

-CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI

 

Promise me no promises,

So will I not promise you;

Keep we both our liberties,

Never false and never true:

Let us hold the die uncast,

Free to come as free to go;

For I cannot know your past,

And of mine what can you know?

 

You, so warm, may once have been

Warmer towards another one;

I, so cold, may once have seen

Sunlight, once have felt the sun:

Who shall show us if it was

Thus indeed in time of old?

Fades the image from the glass

And the fortune is not told.

 

If you promised, you might grieve

For lost liberty again;

If I promised, I believe

I should fret to break the chain:

Let us be the friends we were,

Nothing more but nothing less;

Many thrive on frugal fare

Who would perish of excess.

[1861]

 

Here’s a detailed analysis of "Promises like Pie-Crust" using key elements of literature:

1. Theme

• The poem explores freedom vs. commitment in relationships.
• It suggests that promises are fragile and unreliable.
• It warns against the dangers of emotional excess.

2. Tone

• The tone is pragmatic and realistic rather than romantic.
• There is a sense of detachment as the speaker avoids deep emotional ties.
• It also feels melancholic, suggesting past disappointments in love.

3. Imagery

• The speaker uses visual imagery: “Fades the image from the glass.” This suggests how memories and emotions are temporary.
• Metaphorical imagery appears in “Many thrive on frugal fare / Who would perish of excess.” This implies that simple, moderate relationships are better than overwhelming passion.

4. Symbolism

• "Pie-crust" symbolizes the fragile nature of promises.
• The glass represents memory and the uncertainty of the past.
• Casting a die symbolizes fate, which the speaker refuses to determine.

5. Structure & Form

• The poem follows a regular rhyme scheme (ABAB), creating a smooth, flowing rhythm.
• It is divided into four stanzas, each presenting a different aspect of the argument against promises.

6. Figurative Language

• Metaphor: “Promise me no promises.” (Promises are treated as tangible things.)
• Contrast: “Never false and never true.” (This paradox shows the speaker’s refusal to define relationships.)
• Alliteration: “Free to come as free to go.” (Emphasizes the idea of freedom.)

7. Mood

• The mood is calm but somewhat sorrowful.
• There is a feeling of acceptance rather than regret.

8. Characterization

• The speaker is cautious, independent, and emotionally reserved.
• The second person ("you") is presented as warm and passionate, but their past is unknown.

9. Message

• Love should not be based on rigid promises.
• Freedom is preferable to emotional chains.
• Excessive love can lead to suffering.