Batter My Heart : Themes
Batter My Heart 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 Batter My Heart.
Themes
Religious Doubt: In this poem, the speaker is having religious doubt. He is struggling to restore his faith in God. He is unable to return to God on his own. He feels stuck between two sides: God and sin. He loves God and wants to be close to Him. But he also feels tied to sin. He feels he is married to the enemy. He wants God to save him from this and break that sinful connection. This theme shows how people often feel religious doubt. Sometimes, it can be difficult to restore religious faith. The speaker knows that only God can rescue him from this doubt and help him become truly faithful and holy again.
The Power of God’s Love and Control: The speaker wants God to take full control of his heart and soul. He says gentle love is not enough. He wants God to break him, burn him, and make him new. He believes that only if God takes over his heart completely, will he become free and pure. This theme shows that true love for God means letting go of everything else and letting God rule the heart