Critical Analysis of “The More Loving One” By W.H. Auden

W.H. Auden’s “The More Loving One” is an intriguing poem that touches on the topics of love and humanity in the form of astrology. Auden uses a number of poetic devices to portray this message clearly to his audience. He doesn’t however write a direct translation of what he thinks of love but instead uses metaphors in order to challenge the readers’ imagination.

Auden in this poem compares human beings to stars. This comparison can be criticised as being very unfair as stars are both literally and metaphorically above humans. This is evident upon reading “…That for all they care, I can go to hell.” The fact that he used objects of such importance allows readers to appreciate that Auden does not feel that humans are on the same level of stars. He is trying to reduce the dominance that humans seem to have over everything by saying that even though we spend so much time trying to understand stars they really do not care much about humans. Auden wants his audience to acknowledge that if we as humans realised mans insignificance in the universe then maybe we can begin to comprehend stars and all their mysteries.

By the second stanza the poem becomes more difficult. The roles of the stars change and they are depicted as inferior to humans, which is what we see them as anyway. Auden asks the rhetorical question of how would we feel if stars were treated the way they treat us. What if humans could not reciprocate the love that stars have for us? Auden’s selflessness comes out in this stanza as the audience realises that “the more loving one” will always be Auden. He would hate for someone to feel as if they are giving more love than they are getting. Auden could be using the stars as a pawn to describe something else like relationships that are not equal. The lines “If equal affection cannot be Let the more loving one be me” are the general premise of the poem.

The third stanza explains Auden’s view on the issue of love in the most vivid way compared to the other stanzas. He explains that because he is so comfortable with his love for them and the fact that they cannot love him back, he does not have to miss them. This is evident upon reading “I cannot, now see them, say I missed one terribly all day.” Auden is sure of himself when it comes to giving love. The “admirer” in the poem symbolizes someone who is emotional faithful and dedicated. He explains that there is love in all beauty as even though the stars do not love us back there is still something positive about having something to love.

The significance of stars is constantly advertised in this poem. In the final stanza Auden reveals that stars are eternity and this should be more important to humans than anything. Auden is also trying to say that people, like stars do lose their shine. However stars have it easy, as since they are so many, we do not notice. Our intimate relationships with each other cause us to feel emotions when these relationships fade. We read, “I should learn to look at an empty sky And feel its total dark sublime, Though this might take me a little time.” Auden is using the empty sky to suggest that if humans lose their identity we should just accept and move on, however this would take time.

Auden uses the ABAB rhyme scheme throughout this poem. This is not usual in most of Auden’s works therefore he could be using this simplistic rhyme scheme to maybe further depict the simplicity of life and love. The poem is also extremely relatable, in the sense that everyone can understand it’s meaning and possibly connect it to their own lives. This is mainly due to the simple language used. Though this is quite common in Auden’s works, using direct language while discussing astrology can be quite difficult; Auden could therefore have done this on purpose.

Moreover, Auden’s poem “The more loving one” engages readers on a deeper level than one would think. Reading between the lines we are able to understand that Auden is not only talking about stars but love and modernity as well. The poem is very genuine and the reader feels as if Auden means what he writes. Auden uses a similar form of writing in “As I walked out one evening” in the sense that in both, he tackles themes using un-relatable topics however makes them relate. I feel that this poem in itself is one of his works that fully encapsulates his raw talent.