What kind of love is shown in the poem The Good Morrow?
John Donne’s (1572-1631) poem “The Good Morrow” (1633) shows a deep, mature, and spiritual love. The poem describes the journey of two lovers who find true happiness in each other. It talks about a love that is strong, eternal, and balanced.
Mature and Complete Love: The speaker talks about life before they fell in love. He compares it to childish pleasures and dreams. Their past life seemed meaningless. Now, their love makes them feel whole and complete. The speaker says their souls are “waking” to true love. This shows how mature their love has become. Donne says,
“And now good-morrow to our waking souls.”
Love Beyond the Physical World: Donne compares their love to a whole world. He says their little room is like an “everywhere.” This means their love is so strong that it feels bigger than anything else. He believes their love doesn’t depend on material things but is a connection between their souls.
Eternal and Equal Love: The speaker compares their love to “two better hemispheres.” He says it is free from flaws like “sharp north” or “declining west.” This shows that their love is balanced and perfect. He believes their love will never die, saying,
“If our two loves be one, or, thou and I
Love so alike, that none do slacken, none can die.”
The Good Morrow shows that true love is spiritual, deep, and eternal. It is not about fear or selfishness. Instead, it is about trust, unity, and lasting happiness.