The beloved expresses a wish that her lover were like a brother, that she could kiss him publicly without shame, establishing her desire to have access to the lover in public contexts and to express affection without fear of social sanction. The wish that he were her brother suggests that a brother-sister relationship would permit public affection and kissing in ways that a romantic relationship might not, indicating that the beloved experiences social constraints on public expression of love. The beloved's statement that she would not be despised suggests that public affection with a brother figure would not result in shame, while implying that public erotic affection might. This verse theologically suggests that the beloved chafes against social restrictions on the public expression of love and that she desires freedom to express her affection openly.

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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