Variations on the Word Love

The word love has many meanings to describe personal feelings and has been overused as a marketing tool. In Margaret Atwood’s poem, “Variations on the Word Love”, the author explores the meanings and the different interpretations of the word ‘love’. She explains these meanings through symbolism, imagery, and diction. The word 'love' is overused and can be interpreted in a numerous ways losing it’s meaning. Symbolism in the poem allows Atwood to explore the many meanings of ‘love’ by replacing them with different symbols. Atwood describes ‘love’ as, “a word we use to plug holes with” (Lines 1-2). Atwood does not mean plugging real holes like in the ground but plugging a gap in a sentence to express personal feelings or indescribable words. ‘Love’ is one of these words that is used, “to plug holes with” (Lines 1,2), because it has many interpretations and meanings that it fills the gap

The true meaning of the word "love"tm has lost its effect and that"tms why it is so hard to explain what one feels since "love"tm is interpreted in many different ways. Her use of imagery to explore what "love"tm really means, gives the reader a mental picture. Atwood tries to describe the many ways "love"tm is interpreted and used in our society. Atwood"tms choice to use the word "debaucheries" (Line 15) changes the poem"tms meaning of what the question asks. People do not really know what 'love' is exactly. s of what people are trying to say perfectly. Since the word "love"tm is overused and has lost its meaning, Atwood feels that there should be some other way of expressing feelings other then using the word "love"tm, but there isn"tmt such a word or expression because "love"tm is such a complex feeling, that no word can match it. Many people use this word to fill in gaps to express their feelings, which has been repeatedly used to the point that the word "love"tm has lost meaning. Either in marketing or to the plugging of it into sentences to describe feelings and expressions. The author tries to express the meaning of "love"tm but can"tmt because it is unknown and the only word that suits is the word "love"tm itself. "Love"tm is such a hard feeling to express and to explain. Atwood believes that the word "love"tm, "is far too short for us, it has only four letters" (Line 24). Though, Atwood tried to explain the meaning of "love"tm she could not find a better word to help describe it. Atwood is trying to relay the fact that there are endless amounts of meanings for the word "love"tm. It could mean fulfilling their sensual pleasures for all they know because of the many interpretations.