Concept: This poem may convey a sense of belonging to family.
Analysis:
"One who died for truth was lain/ In an adjoining room"
- Traditionally, family groups were often buried in the same tomb. This metaphorical/physical depiction of an adjoining room may suggest that the two characters may have had some relation, suggesting that belonging to family persists even after death.
"We brethren are... as kinsmen met a night"
- The use of familial terms strongly conveys a sense of belonging to family.
Concept: In order to achieve true belonging, something must be sacrificed in regards to one's "critical values"
Analysis:
"I died for beauty... When one who died for truth"
- The metaphorical use of death highlights a sacrifice made in regards to their critical values. By remaining a martyr through and through, they have perhaps lost their ability to advocate their critical values, as they are "metaphorically" dead.
This loss in ability to advocate what is important to them can be seen as the sacrifice.
- However, this is resolved to an extent, as through sacrificing their ability to advocate their critical values, both characters have found one another, who seem to have a similar situation. In this sense, they have a true belonging to each other as they both "failed" for essentially the same reason and hence, can understand each other.
