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Mya Davis

Professor Diehl

Humanities 2010-A

12 April 2023

Analog Project #2-Synthesis Essay

Margaret Atwood's Habitation. The poem Habitation talks about how marriage is a

serious commitment and not something to be taken lightly. Marriage is vital and maintaining

harmony requires a lot of effort and care. When reading this poem the primary love languages

that are depicted throughout the poem are; pragma, philia, philautia, quality time, and words of

affirmation. The poem Habitation can compare and contrast to William Shakespeare’s Romeo &

Juliet in many ways from the different love languages that they share.

“Marriage is not a house or even a tent.” The concept of a house and a white picket fence

does not always keep a couple together forever. Margaret talks on how marriage is a struggle that

requires serious effort. Marriage must be built from the ground up; this is where philia love

develops from the close relationship. You have the opportunity to get to know someone for who

they are through a deep connection, and you learn things about them that you otherwise wouldn't

have known. " The unpainted stairs at the back where we squat outside, eating popcorn", this line

in my opinion, captures the essence of philia love; to me the pair is pictured eating popcorn while

relaxing on the porch and conversing casually, laughing, and seemingly carefree. A deep

friendship gives you the ability to learn from one another; even after getting married, your

friendship doesn't have to end.

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“Where painfully and with wonder at having survived even this far we are learning to

make fire.” This line represents pragma love or longstanding committed love. I hear the phrase "I

wanna grow old with you" when I read this line from the poem; I also picture an elderly couple

in rocking chairs sitting on the porch. I get the sense that this is a couple who has probably been

through alot of trials and tribulations together and at the end they are still standing side by side as

one; which is pragma love. The line above in my opinion, was included in the poem by Margaret

to illustrate how a relationship can develop from "puppy love" to a more "established love.”

The poem frequently depicts philautia love and quality time. This poem makes me feel as

though a lot of self-love is being discussed. After all, how can you love someone in a marriage if

you don't love yourself first? I think Margaret is referring to the fact that in order to have a more

pragmatic marriage, you must first work on yourself as an individual before working together as

a couple. You can better love your partner if you learn to love yourself first. Bringing up the

previous phrase, "the unpainted stairs at the back where we squat outside, eating popcorn," this

sentence illustrates quality time together.

“We are learning to make fire.” It sounds as though Margaret is saying, "We finally made

it," in this line, which can be interpreted as words of affirmation. To me, the entire poem is an

affirmation; I think Margaret is talking about what goes on "behind the scenes" of a real marriage

and establishing that it is not as simple and ideal as it appears; it's like looking in a mirror and

seeing two distinct things. Throughout the poem, Margaret employs words of affirmation and

extended metaphors. A "struggle marriage" is depicted at the beginning of the poem before

transitioning to a more "stable marriage." This poem's primary application of love, in my

opinion, is through words of affirmation.

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The poem Habitation can be compared to and contrasted with the film Romeo & Juliet

because when Romeo & Juliet secretly wed, their union was not sincere; rather, it was founded

on lust and infatuation. They hardly knew one another, and their families were hostile toward

one another, so their marriage was doomed from the start. Romeo and Juliet never had a chance

to experience philia, philautia, or pragma love; their relationship was more characterized by eros

and ludus. Due to the fact that it began as a difficult marriage, this might be compared to the

beginning of the poem Habitation. Quality time is the only love language that Romeo and Juliet

and the poem Habitation have in common.

The lesson learned about love from the poem Habitation and the film Romeo & Juliet is

that love has many imperfections and is not as ideal as it first appears, as shown by the poem

Habitation and the film Romeo & Juliet. You can't just rush into something based on lust or

infatuation and expect love; love is something that has to be built from the ground up. Love is

not easy in the beginning but it does get better in the end as Margaret Atwood stated in her poem.

As they always say, “ It takes two to tango.”