The Angel in the House

"The Angel in the House" by Coventry Patmore is a poetic work composed in the mid-19th century, particularly within the Victorian era. It explores themes of love, domesticity, and the idealization of womanhood through the lens of marriage. The narrative likely follows the life and thoughts of the protagonist, Vaughan, as he contemplates elements of love and relationships, especially with the women figures surrounding him, such as his wife and daughters. The opening of the text introduces Vaughan, who expresses his artistic ambitions and his deep affection for his wife on their wedding day. As he reflects on his poetry and the overarching theme of love, he figures love as a central focus of his life. The piece details the couple's early relationship, filled with affection, admiration, and the promise of a shared life. Through their interaction, a juxtaposition is created between personal aspirations and the devotion to familial bonds, setting the stage for a rich exploration of love's complexities as the narrative unfolds. This introduction establishes the nuanced emotional landscape that the poem aims to explore throughout its verses. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Coventry Kersey Dighton Patmore was an English poet and literary critic. He is best known for his book of poetry The Angel in the House, a narrative poem about the Victorian ideal of a happy marriage. As a young man, Patmore worked for the British Museum in London. After the publication of his first book of poems in 1844, he became acquainted with members of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. After the death of his first wife, Emily Augusta Patmore in 1862, his grief over her death became a major theme in his poetry.