Discuss how John Donne has brought novelty to love poems.

Discuss how John Donne has brought novelty to love poems. 

Or, Donne has broken the monotony of traditional poems and brought novelty in love poems”. Discuss.

Or, Donne as a love poet.

John Donne (1572-1631) is well-known for his metaphysical poetry. As a love poet, he starkly contrasts the Elizabethan and Petrarchan concepts of spiritual love. His treatment of love focuses on different aspects. He is not a mere worshiper of goddess-like beloved. His love philosophy shows physical and holy love, cynicism, faith in love, and the sanctity and dignity of married life.

Realism: Donne’s treatment of love is realistic, not romantic. He knows the pleasures of sex and the joy of secret meetings. He attempts to establish the relationship between the body and the soul. True love is not related to the body. It is the relationship of one soul to another soul. The physical union may not be necessary as in “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning.” However, in another poem, “The Sun Rising,” the poet regards physical union as necessary. Such contradictions in any way do not destroy the value of his poetry. They emphasize the demands of the body and the needs of the soul.

Power of Mutual and Genuine Love: It is known that John Donne is not a worshiper of his beautiful beloved. He asserts that love cannot be fulfilled without mutual attraction and passion for each other. Balance in love is as necessary as the soul to the body. Balance and true love keep the lovers aloof from all kinds of illicit love attractions. In the poem “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning,” the poet confidently declares the power of mutual and true love.

If they be two, they are two so

As stiff twin compasses are two;

Thy soul, the fixed foot, makes no show

To move, but doth, if the other do.

Unification of sensibility: The unique aspect of Donne’s love poetry is the blend of thought and passion. His love poetry is complex, but his poems have two aspects. One is a subtle play of argument and wit, and the other is a fantasy with realism. He could be more idealistic and conventional. His logic is blended with philosophy. In “The Canonization,” Donne logically shows his passion for the lovers being saints. “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” expresses that passion with logic satisfies the beloved. It gives confidence as to the purity of love. “The Sunrising” argumentatively depicts that satisfactory love cannot be disturbed by any natural forces. “The Good Morrow” is another paradigm of love poem filled with passion and arguments. In this poem, the poet shows that accurate love results from immortality.

If our two loves be one, or, thou and I

Love so alike, that none do slacken, none can die.

Attitude to women: As a love poet, John Donne never devalues women. He does not feel that women are sex dolls. He gives them prestige, though he thinks they are a bundle of contradictions. We can quote from the poem “The Sunrising”:

She’s all states, and all princes, I,

Nothing else is.

Such expression helps us to evaluate Donne’s attitude to women. However, his two-fold attitude to women depends on the situation and mood.

Diction and movement: Diction means the use of language. This movement refers to the melodious or lyrical quality. Discarding the ornamental and artificial language of the Petrarchan poets, Donne uses conversational language and dramatic form. This dramatic quality of his love poems enhances the passion of his love.

Mystic concept of love: The Holy Sonnets—the Divine Meditations or Divine Sonnets—are a series of nineteen poems by John Donne. In Holy Sonnets, he addresses religious themes related to death, divine justice, heavenly love, and humble penance. It reflects on deeply personal concerns. In the poem “Batter My Heart,” he declares his mystic love for God. He says he will never be free. He will never be chaste until God ravishes him. He says,

Take me to you, imprison me.

To sum up, John Donne’s love is notable for his intense and passionate style. His versatile treatment of love surprises the readers profoundly. He is simultaneously sensual, realistic, mystic, violent, and enthusiastic.