My initial impression of the painting of the young couple on the Grecian urn was that the artist was playing a sick joke on the lovers, tantalizing them and dangling a potentially romantic kiss in front of them but holding them inches from actually kissing. However, I realized he was doing them a great favor. He gave each of them their own ideal kiss left to the imagination.
Speaking to the young couple, the observer tells them not to grieve though they are stuck in a moment that looks very unfortunate for them (imagine holding your face inches away from your significant others' for forever. Awkward...) However, it is actually the exact moment that contains the veery essence of bliss.both of their expectations are sky high in this moment-pulses racing, hearts pounding- and because they are frozen they will never know disappointment, though they will also never know the satisfaction embedded in the kiss itself. Their passions remain insatiable for the remainder of time.
Also, after reading this stanza, I couldn't help but wonder if the artist had a couple to model for this painting. If so, I'm interested to know if they experienced torture or bliss.
I like the fact you think the lovers were given that chance to imagine their own kiss. But, imagining a kiss is nothing like a real kiss. A real kiss might not live up to any of your expectations, but something imagined is not tangible. There is no way to know what a kiss is going to be like until it's been experienced, until it is something tangible. Personally, I think that the two lovers, stuck forever inches from something tangible, is one of the cruelest things that can happen to someone.
ReplyDeleteHe does do them a great favor by prolonging the time to the kiss. It makes them appreciate it more when it does happen. Like when I wait till 1 inn the afternoon to eat lunch, it tastes better somehow. Or it is just a way to build up their expectations for the kiss.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Meghan's comment. It may seem 'ideal' for someone to imagine the best kiss possible, because then they never have to face the disappoint of a bad kiss or heartbreak. But an imagined kiss can never be a real kiss, it can never fully express the love between to two young lovers. (and I'm not speaking from experience) I could tell you though, for me, it would be absolute torture to be on the romantic, intense moment where you long to kiss the one you love and all you can do is forever stare at them only inches away.
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