Talk:Love/@comment-211.28.45.247-20160512054721/@comment-28417325-20160512120732

We need to draw a distinction between the definition of ‘character’ and the realisation of ‘success.’ Without a doubt love contributes to both the definition of his character and success, however it would be erroneous to suggest that this love is the primary catalyst. In ‘Funeral Rites’ Heaney suggests that he ‘shouldered a kind of manhood stepping in to lift the coffins’ of dead relatives; such a comment would infer that loss and death at the very least contribute to the definition of his character. Thus, it is true that love contributes to the realization of his character, however this realization should be seen as an interwoven matrix of death, love, life and conflict. These facets of his experience conspire to construct his conscience. Furthermore, the definition of character cannot be seen as synonymous with success, character speaks of the development of identity whereas success to achievement of goals. They are interrelated yet not tantamount. In ‘The swing’ the characters ‘all learned one by one to go sky high ’ inferring that their mother facilitated their successes, looking on ‘majestic as an empresses’ as her children ‘sailed beyond’ themselves. The mother exists to facilitate their success, yet as an external force, the characters must power the swing themselves, the action typified as ‘we sailed’ as opposed to we were taught.