How does the poem “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” celebrate the spiritual quality of love?
A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning is a notable literary work by John Donne. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning.
Answer
How does the poem “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” celebrate the spiritual quality of love?
John Donne’s (1572-1631) poem “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” (1633) is a beautiful love poem. In this poem, the speaker is saying goodbye to his beloved as he is going on a short trip. He asks her not to cry or be sad. He explains that their love is not just physical. Their love is spiritual and pure, so it will not break even if they are far away from each other.
Special and Spiritual Love: At the beginning of the poem, the speaker says that their love is special. So, he says that she should not be upset about this short leave. Just as good men die quietly and peacefully, their goodbye should be like this. They do not need to show it with tears or loud emotions. The speaker says that ordinary lovers cannot stay in love when they are separated. But their love grows stronger when they are separated. Because their souls are always connected.
Metaphor of a Compass: Now, Donne uses a fine conceit to celebrate the spiritual quality of their love. He compares their two souls the the two legs of a drawing compass. One leg stands still, and the other moves, but they stay connected. This shows that even when the lovers are far, their souls are still united.
“If they be two, they are two so
As stiff twin compasses are two;”
Moreover, one leg stays firm in the center. It is steady and does not move much. This leg is like the beloved, who stays at home. The other leg moves in a circle, just like the speaker who has to travel away. But when one leg moves, the other follows and leans toward it. This shows that their souls are always in touch.
In this way, the poem celebrates spiritual love between the lovers. Their spiritual love only becomes stronger when they are physically apart.