Point of View

"Love (III)" is written from the first-person perspective of a humble speaker who refuses to accept that he is worthy of Love's hospitality, or God's grace. The speaker shares similarities with speakers of Herbert's other devotional poems, as they typically feature an uneasy, uncertain, or even frustrated persona expressing struggles with their faith. While it is incorrect to assume that the speaker of this poem is Herbert himself, Herbert's role as a priest in the Church of England likely influenced many of his devotional poems, "Love (III)" included. As such, many consider Herbert's work to be at least partially autobiographical in nature, and he has received newfound praise from scholars for his complex and frank depictions of what it means to be a practicing Christian.

Language and Meaning

The language of "Love (III)" is generally accessible, and a modern reader is not likely to have...