How would you describe Astrophils relationship to Stella in Sidneys sonnet sequence Astrophil and Stella?
Astrophil’s tone regarding Stella is one of admiration. She is the inspiration for the piece. Stella’s eyes are mentioned to be “Nature’s chief work.” He incorporates Diana (patron of chastity) and Venus (goddess of beauty and love) into his sonnets. It seems like a complicated love circumstance, although not unrequited love (he declares that his “lips are sweet, inspired with Stella’s kiss”). The poems seem to be an attempt at impressing Stella, acknowledged by the author as he toils over his work (“‘Fool,'” said my Muse to me, ‘Look in thy heart and write'”). An interesting aspect of his admiration is the pain associated with it: “Love gave the wound, which while I breathe will bleed.” In general, I would describe Astrophil’s relationship with Stella as an obsession. Stella is like a model that he is either painting or sculpting. After completing his work, he falls in love with her (Sonnet 6). Knowing that she is in love with someone else (Sonnet 20) and not able to do anything about
