Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "The Repulse to Alcander," Sarah Fyge Egerton crafts a powerful response to unwanted advances. The poem is written from the perspective of a woman addressing a suitor, Alcander, who has attempted to seduce her despite her existing commitment to another. Through a combination of sharp wit, vivid imagery, and moral clarity, Egerton explores themes of fidelity, agency, and the importance of maintaining one's reputation.

Summary of the Poem:

The poem begins with the speaker questioning Alcander's intentions: "WHAT is't you mean, that I am thus approached? / Dare you to hope that I may be debauched?" She is appalled by his audacity, recognizing his seduction attempts as an affront to her honor. His "seducing words" are intended to gain her "pity" with tales of "love, and sighs, and almost dies." However, she sees through his false sincerity, noting that "In every word and action doth appear / Something I hate and blush to see or hear."

Alcander initially approached her under the guise of "vast respect," but his excessive politeness soon revealed his ulterior motives: "Till your excess of manners grew too bold, / And did your base, designing thoughts unfold." His bold actions include kissing her hand and playing with it, and she realizes that his "every look had something of address."

The speaker initially likens Alcander to the romantic hero Phylaster, who expressed his love genuinely and faithfully, intending to marry his beloved. However, she then questions Alcander's intentions: "But now, when sacred laws and vows confine / Me to another, what can you design?" Despite her initial attempts to make excuses for his behavior, believing that perhaps Bacchus (the god of wine) or cultural differences inspired his actions, she soon recognizes his persistent advances for what they are: "your amorous crimes repeat, / That to permit you would make mine as great."

Moral Clarity and Rejection:

Egerton’s speaker challenges Alcander’s sense of entitlement: "What saw you in me that could make you vain, / Or anything expect but just disdain?" While she acknowledges not condemning "all little gallantries for vice," she firmly rejects Alcander's overtures, declaring, "Yet know, base man, I scorn your lewd amours, / Hate them from all, not only 'cause they're yours."

She appeals to the sacredness of love, lamenting how it has been profaned by those who use it for "sport and entertain." She contrasts Alcander's empty flirtations with the authenticity of genuine love, asserting that "Oh sacred Love! let not the world profane / Thy transports." The speaker highlights how Alcander's actions threaten her reputation: "your rude love my privacy invades, / Affronts my virtue, hazards my just fame."

Maintaining Agency and Reputation:

Egerton’s speaker emphasizes the importance of reputation, aware that "Men boast those favours which they are denied." She recognizes the risk of being implicated by association: "Or others' malice, which can soon discern, / Perhaps may see in you some kind concern." The rumors could tarnish her reputation, leading to "stain to my renown!"

The poem concludes with the speaker resolving to protect herself from further advances and reputational harm: "No, I'll be wise, avoid your sight in time, / And shun at once the censure and the crime." By avoiding Alcander, she maintains her moral integrity and preserves her reputation.

Structure and Form:

Structurally, the poem is written in rhymed couplets, primarily in iambic pentameter. This form lends the poem a rhythmic and persuasive quality, underscoring the speaker's unwavering conviction and moral clarity.

Conclusion:

"The Repulse to Alcander" by Sarah Fyge Egerton is a compelling critique of unwanted advances and a defense of a woman's agency and reputation. Through vivid imagery and sharp wit, Egerton crafts a narrative of empowerment and moral clarity, emphasizing the importance of fidelity and authenticity in love. The poem challenges societal expectations and asserts a woman's right to reject advances that compromise her integrity, making it a timeless and relevant work.

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