The gaining of an individuals love and affection, time and devotion is the main idea in all three of the " Passionate Shepherd" poems by Marlowe, Raleigh, and Lewis. Although the ways in which they want to obtain the love of the that special person is uniquely different, at times in a practical manor, and impractical, but then answered by the receiver who believes that love can only be gained in a realistic approach. The tone and choice of words that the speakers use allows the reader to learn about their character and helps us understand the meaning that the poem is trying to express.
All three speakers in these poems share one common interest, they all desire love. Speaker number one in " Song" states that come be my love if you will except my strong work ethic and the life I can show you through books and the little things like my affection. " I"ll handle dainties on the docks and thou shalt read of summer flocks." As for speaker number two in " The Passionate Shepherd to His Love" this speaker states how he will stop time and sweep his love off her feet. He will serenade her with all the beauty nature can give, and offer her all the finest of cloths and jewelry, because she is the apple of his eye. " And I will make thee beds of roses and a thousand fragrant posies."Like in all cases some more bazaar than others speaker number three in " The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd" desires love that is weathered and can withstand all, pure love from the heart not something that comes from a storybook. If all the world and love were young, And truth in every Shepherd's tongue, These pretty pleasures might me move." These speakers don't necessarily see eye to eye but all want love in their lives.
After reading these poems we must now weigh their practicality, and this is where we find the differences between all three of them. In the poem " Song" the speaker is a fisherman who works hard, he wants to offer his love the best but realizes that there is no way of stropping time for her and still be able to be employed and live a successful life.