"Thou Blind Man's Mark" by Sir Philip Sidney serves as a stand against desire. Sidney uses literary devices, such as imagery, structure, and diction, to convey to his audience his attitude and views on desire. Through imagery he showed the foolish nature of longing, through structure the fight against it, and through diction the end of desire. Sidney conveys that desire is an evil thing that must be fought against and conquered.
Sidney begins with several metaphor that helps to illustrate his negative view of desire. Sidney feels that to follow longings are a fool's errand, in fact he even says so, "...thou fool's self-chosen snare...". Not only is one foolish to pursue desire but desire is the "Band of all evils...". Sidney appears to believe that desire is foolish and even evil, and he shows that using imagery and multiple metaphors throughout the poem.
The structure of the poem also lends a hand to the show the attitude and views of the author. The poem experiences a shift nearly two-thirds the way through from condemning those who trust in desire to encouraging resistance to it. The poem purposed to convince those who would argue otherwise. Sidney uses the poem to turn others to his way of thinking by presenting an idea in a conflicting light then the poem shifts to rouse action in others.
The diction of the poem is one of definites. Sidney encourages the people to "kill" desire and the ultimate destruction of longings. The diction is lead to be one that is serious that is definite that would stir action in others. Sidney shows no humor nor hint of light-heartedness, the diction is what is used throughout the poem to create such a somber mood as to bring about the seriousness of the matter. Diction is shows Sidney's attitude through the mood it creates, Sidney wishes to show that this is no joking matter.
Sidney uses literary elements to show this attitude towards the poem's subject, somber and grim. Sidney wishes to convey the attitude that the subject of desire is a matter that must be taken seriously and something that should be prevented.
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