The Virgin by Sappho

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Critical Analysis: “The Virgin,” by Sappho

Bearing a child is the biggest responsibility that will happen in life. Providing time and protection of the child is a major part. But the most important thing is that they do not become lonely and forgotten. When being a parent, this is their job, to keep them welcomed and to never forget about them. In the fragment titled, “The Virgin,” Sappho uses vivid imagery to show how an apple tree has a relationship like mother and child. How the tree would be the mother, and the child would be the apple. Like a mother and child, it is the responsibility of the tree to hold on to the apple and make sure it gets taken care of, no matter what.

Sappho uses imagery right away when she uses the words, “Like a sweet apple ripening” in line 1. It is saying that since the apple is ripening, it is then growing like a child does. How in the beginning of life it goes through changes in its appearance and size and grows out to who they are today, and become more mature as time goes on. They become a delightful blessing as they come into the world and gro...

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