Christ, he says, can turn even a black sinful soul into a state of perfection. Indeed, this sonnet is notable for its colour symbols. This poem works out the development of love from childish unawareness to mature consciousness, and points out where the difference lies. It shows what love means to the lovers, its relation to ordinary experience and how its continuance is assured. The theme may be the unifying of two souls in one, and the conquest by love of all things — even space and time.
But each of the lovers is a person, and the poem flickers between this individualness and union. Metaphysical poetry is renowned for its striking use of imagery and tone and The Good Morrow is a good example of this.
The poem begins with a realistic description of a morning bedroom. Students alike! The Good Morrow has always impressed readers with its range and variety of imagery. From the ordinary activities of breast-feeding and heavy sleeping, Donne passes to the exotic activities of explorers, geographers and philosophers.
However, the sea-discoverers with all their topical glamour and novelty are introduced only to be dismissed as lacking in true exploration compared with the relationship he is describing. Thus, The Good Morrow deals with awakening and with discovery. The Good Morrow has always impressed modern critics by the range and variety of his references, as well as by its avoidance of ornamental language.
The greatest concentration of language is confined to the second stanza. Man, Donne suggests, is concerned with broadening his physical horizons, but is neglecting to expand his knowledge in a spiritual direction. Love, in the end, binds all things together and allows man to attain his true destiny.
Suggested in this poem is the idea of the fundamental, and not accidental, limitations of our knowledge. Science can explain the physical, but not the spiritual universe.
Astronomers may spend their lives studying the heavens but they are always fearful of what they might find. Connected to each of these images is the idea of isolation and lack of real purpose: the lonely astronomer forever watchful, the explorer who spends his life going round the world only to arrive back where he started, the scientist alone in his laboratory making many discoveries, none of which effect the real destiny of mankind.
In contrast to this he presents his own rational theory which is itself the result of considerable previous study. The only true art, he suggests, is the art of love which requires knowledge, patience and effort, which overcomes death and prepares man for eternity.
This is not unlike The Good Morrow. There is the same personal approach; no address to love, but directly to his wife — the intimacy and immediacy of the metaphysical poet. The theme is that their love on earth is unique, but that, since happiness in heaven is shared by all, they must preserve their earthly love as long as they live. It has been described as a selfish poem — but lovers are traditionally selfish and like to think that their love is unique.
The Anniversarie depends for its success upon our recognising the presence of an individual speaker. It is a very contemplative poem. The speaker is not so much intent on displaying the great depth of his knowledge as in arguing his ideas with simple wisdom.
Despite the fact that he sometimes appears to be frivolous and insincere, Donne always wished to express universal truths in his poetry. Like Shakespeare, when he expresses something profound, Donne often does it quite simply. The subject of universal destruction is another of the themes of The Anniversarie , and the death of princes is used to symbolise it.
The dramatic impact of the opening lines depends upon the emphasis suggested by the word all:. All kings and all their favourites,. All glory of honours, beauties, wits…. All other things to their destruction draw,. The grandeur of princes must inevitably pass away; kings must live in fear of misfortune, treason and death.
It is true to say, therefore, that the major image suggested by The Anniversarie is royal and heraldic: groups of words appear in each stanza which relate to kings, princes and courtly life.
We know by now that concentration of language is an essential characteristic of metaphysical poetry and The Anniversarie is a perfect example of this.
In the opening stanza Donne introduces groups of associated images drawn from the royal courts and palaces to suggest the transience of earthly glory:. All glory of honours, beauties, wits,. The sun itself, which makes time, as they pass,. Is elder by a year now than it was. When thou and I first one another saw. Throughout his poems, as already stated, Donne manifests a curiously ambiguous attitude towards kings, princes and courtly life.
These opening lines refer to this idea. What need has he of kings and princes when they are inconstant and subject to decay?
He soon stops questioning God and asks him to forgive him for his sins because God is so merciful. The central idea is that God is forgiving. His writings portray his experiences throughout his life and with religion itself. Donne was born in London, England in He was known as the founder of metaphysical poets, poets whose work was characterized by the use of conceits, along with some other poets such as George Herbert and Richard Crashaw. Donne startles his readers by turning his knowledge of religion into long metaphors.
Being born into a Roman Catholic family, caused his passion for religion to grow. He joined the Anglican Church two years later after being religiously pressured.
After he was released, the two ran away together. More and Donne spent a good while together and soon after she died, Donne became full of grief and dedicated himself to his poetry. He became very passionate and interested in death. John Donne uses his experiences to present a message to the people and wanted people to view God the way he did.
There is a very passionate tone all throughout the Sonnet as well as a shift in tones. In the beginning of the Sonnet, the tone is more anxious and uneasy and shifts into a more remorseful tone towards the end. Standardized Tests. Online Learning. Social Sciences. Legal Studies. Political Science. Welcome to Owlcation. Related Articles. By Linda Crampton. By Colin Quartermain. By Howard Allen. By Amara. By ata By Leonard Kelley. By Eric Caunca. No, no; but as in my idolatry I said to all my profane mistresses, Beauty, of pity, foulness only is A sign of rigour: so I say to thee, To wicked spirits are horrid shapes assigned, This beauteous form assures a piteous mind.
The poem sees Donne addressing his soul and asking: what if the world ended tonight and the Day of Judgement came? Are you afraid to come face to face with Christ, and would he have justification for sending you to hell? The same may go for the speaker and his soul: Donne who was, as contemporary portraits show, clearly a handsome man who was attractive to the opposite sex need have little reason to fear the fate of his soul, since a beautiful appearance equals a beautiful soul.
The author of this article, Dr Oliver Tearle, is a literary critic and lecturer in English at Loughborough University.
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