Figurative Analysis - Sappho "A Company of Soldiers"

11/23/16

Joseph McClendon

Rhetoric 103a

Dale Carrico / Kuan Hwa

Figurative Analysis - Sappho “11: A Company of Soldiers”

                What receives the honor of “the most beautiful sight on earth”? Is it the observable capabilities of a military at war, or is it the unescapable sensitivity one has to love? In “A Company of Soldiers” Sappho states that the distinction of the “most beautiful sight upon earth[ ] belongs to whoever ones loves.” Sappho is stating that the “honour” “belongs” to the authority of “love[ ]” because it’s more powerful than that of “soldiers on foot” or “fleets of ships”. Sappho identifies the definition of beauty for both the patriarchy (the military lexicon) and for the matriarchy (the power of love) throughout the piece. Through this perspective, one could interpret that Sappho is criticizing the patriarchy by comparing it to the authority love has over women. Love has more authority than military strength or the fear that it incites. In this figurative analysis evidence will validate this analysis of the authors work by examining the decision of Helen, the rule of Aphrodite over Aries and Sappho’s preference to her love over visions of military might.

                With the repetition of “Some say…Some say…” Sappho uses the scheme of anaphora to build the audiences engagement through repetition. Sappho gives us some common opinions of what “Some say” and “others think” to be considered “the most beautiful sight on earth’s [d]ark soil”. Then by ending the strophe by contrasting what “Some say” and “others think” with “Ah, but for me” makes a distinction from “soldiers on foot”, “soldiers on horse” and “fleet of ships” to the “honour belong[ing] to whoever one loves” using antithesis. By bringing together contrasting ideas, it expresses the main idea, or suggested idea, more emphatically. By repeating the term “belongs” Sappho is indicating ownership of the “honour” as it must be the property of one or the other. Does it belong to the patriarchal colonization through force via the military or does the “honour” “belong[ ]” to the captivating force love has over women. She states that “[i]t’s easy to see why” her viewpoint is the correct assertion by using Helen as an example. Helen was “[t]he most gorgeous woman on earth” and she “[a]bandoned her man, [m]ost excellent of all men!” Even though she was the “most gorgeous” and her husband was the “most excellent” this status didn’t overpower the authority of the love she felt towards another. She even abandoned her parents and children so she could “ma[k]e sails for Troy” and follow the seduction of love. “Made sails” is a metaphor for her desertion of her responsibilities as a daughter, wife and mother. The might of her husband, the most powerful of men, and the duties of a mother couldn’t compare to the temptations love bequeathed her.

                Through examining Helen’s decision of abandoning those closest to her in favor of what her heart desired we’re now led to the argument of favorability between Aries and Aphrodite. After explaining Helen’s story, Sappho then exclaims “[t]hat [this] was Cypris’ fault! Aphrodite!”. “Cypris” and “Aphrodite” are both descriptive of the Greek goddess of love. The call of “Aphrodite” by Sappho is an allusion to the power held by the Greek goddess of love Aphrodite, instead of Aries, the Greek god of war. Traditional authority belongs to imagery of military, or Aries, the divine force of military, instead, she labels command principally to Aphrodite, specifying that “honour” belongs to “this goddess who had led her so far astray”, the goddess of love. By stating how “sudden[ ]”, eas[y]” and “gentl[e]” it was for love to control her even though she was with the “[m]ost excellent of all men” and commander of the military, this confirms the interpretation that forceful colonial suppressing of women is no match for the power of love.

                After examining the “easy to see” authority that Aphrodite has over Aries, let’s now discuss Sappho’s preference of her love over visual military might. She begins her final strophe with “Ah! This reminds me of Anactoria” this being her own love. By stating specifically “whoever one loves” in the beginning of the text makes the reader believe that Sappho doesn’t limit love to a specific gender, but to “whoever” one loves. This furthers Sappho’s critique of the patriarchy by stating that she loves another woman. “I’d much rather look upon her charming step… [t]han all the glittering chariots of the Lydia”. She finalizes her piece by stating that no military victory could compare to the feelings for her beloved. Not even the sight “all the foot soldiers [c]lad in their weighty armour!” could compare to that of the spectacle of your beloved. The imagery of “armour”, “chariots”, “soldiers”, “fleet of ships” and other visual representations group together and form the military lexicon, which is the antithesis of “whoever one loves”. The visuals of patriarchy are always present, but not of matriarchy. The matriarchal influence is suppressed, there’s only the word and emotions stemming from love that we are left with.

Now we’ve examined the decision of Helen, the authority of Aphrodite over Aries and Sappho’s preference of her beloved over visual representations of military might. In this there’s been evidence providing support to Sappho’s criticism of the patriarchal military muscle as being inferior to the power of love. According to Sappho love should rule, not military might. The unseen guidance of love is more powerful than the imagery of the “[m]ost excellent of all men!” Through patriarchal colonial rule and feminine oppression, we’ve been blinded by the power of love with the terrifying capabilities of the state. With the aid of those that are open to conversation over competition we may be able to sway the world closer to a matriarchal guidance and see if Sappho was right to believe that “whoever one loves’ held the “honour” of “most beautiful sight on…earth[ ]”.