Only by using reason and not passion can humans achieve their full potential, a thought expressed by Alexander Pope in his magnum opus “Essay on Man”. In regard to love, Wordsworth discovered that the rhythm of Nature, a force inherent in all things, represented the purest form of love he experienced from Nature during his youth and that those memories now serve as nourishment for the future. Shakespeare, too, believes that only love that is passionate and unhindered by obstacles can be defined as true love. However, as Shakespeare describes the characteristics of love, he resorts to reasoning, something that seems to run counter to the emotion's passionate nature.


In light of your readings of Shakespeare, Wordsworth, and Alexander Pope, present your assessment of the contradictory nature inherent in humans. Would you consider it more appropriate to rely on reason or emotions when determining what has significance for humans? Is Shakespeare's approach to the subject of love based on reason? If so, why do you believe so?
Please answer the above questions.
Word limit : 700 words