Valentine

• Valentine - Change


  Change from conventional, cliched tacky Valentine's gifts to a more honest appraisal of the true nature of love/the more responsibility that comes after certain lengths of time a relationship lasts/the changing nature of romance after marriage.

  'I give you an onion.'

  Speaker is addressing a romantic partner but gives something unexpected. A change from the conventional Valentine gifts.
• Valentine - Influence of Past


  The permanent effects on a person after a relationship.
• Valentine - Conflict/pain


  Pain caused by breakups or violent partners.

  'It will blind you with tears like a lover.'

  Simile, accepts the truth about love - it isn't all perfect and happy. An onion's scent compared to being hurt by the one you love. Love has it's up and downs. Partners can leave us in tears, suggesting the emotional power they can hold as a lover. Heartbreak can result from love. The onion can sting your eyes the way we can be stung by anothers heartlessness.
• Valentine - Concerns about identity


  The speaker is unwilling to be defined by society's conventional view of romantic love which prompts her attempt to break free of romantic stereotypes and be more truthful, more authentic.

  'Not a red rose or a satin heart.'

  Speaker dismisses stereotypical Valentine gifts , as they do not think they hold much worth.
• Valentine - Contrast


  Contrast between the sentimentalised view of love expressed through cliches and the truer view of love shown through the speakers gift. Encourages an honest, uncompromising view of human relationships.

  'It promises light.'

  Suggesting assurance, guarantee, optimism, and hope at the beginning of relationships, which contrasts with heartbreak, and negativity at the end of relationships.
• Valentine - Self Realisation


  The speaker does, at one point of the poem realise her way of honest, non-cliche love might be for their partner and fears possible rejection.
• Valentine - Loss


  The speaker attempts to cope with the loss of her illusions of love by rejecting the cliches of love if favour of a more cynical view.
• Valentine - Love/relationship


  Unconventional view of love/rejection of stereotypical view of love/bitterness associated with rejection/violent relationships/idea that love does not always last.

  'Lethal.'

  Love can destroy a person as easy as a knife can destroy an onion.