The Passionate Shepherd to His Love

Even during Marlowe’s time, coral had long been used in decorative objects. People believed that coral prevented ill fortune. They also believed that if a wearer wore coral as a necklace, the coral protected the wearer from illness. The speaker promises their significant other “Coral clasps” (Line 18). Early peoples also believed that coral held the energy of life and blood. With this interpretation, the coral, as well as the clasps, represent the couple joining together and having a life together, possibly staying young and disease free forever. The people also believed that coral protected against bleeding and evil spirits, and that wearing coral would give one wisdom and cure insanity and madness. Adding coral to the poem frames their love as protected, in particular from disease and misfortune.

The speaker promises the significant other “A belt of straw and Ivy buds, / With Coral clasps and Amber studs” (Lines 17-18). Early people believed that amber, like coral, held many magical powers. In the Norse tradition, people believed that amber was the golden tears of the goddess Freyja. In Greek mythology, amber was believed to be the tears of Heliads as she grieved for her brother Phaeton. Heliads’s tears fell into a river and hardened into amber.