'The Indifferent' by John Donne

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I can love both fair and brown,
Her whom abundance melts, and her whom want betrays,
Her who loves loneness best, and her who masks and plays,
Her whom the country formed, and whom the town,
Her who believes, and her who tries,
Her who still weeps with spongy eyes,
And her who is dry cork, and never cries;
I can love her, and her, and you, and you,
I can love any, so she be not true.
Will no other vice content you?
Will it not serve your turn to do as did your mothers?
Or have you old vices spent, and now would find out others?
Or doth a fear, that men are true, torment you?
Oh we are not, be not you so;
Let me, and do you, twenty know.
Rob me, but bind me not, and let me go.
Must I, who came to travel thorough you,
Grow your fixed subject, because you are true?Venus heard me sigh this song,
And by Love's sweetest part, Variety, she swore
She heard not this till now; and that it should be so no more.
She went, examined, and returned ere long,
And said, "Alas, some two or three
Poor heretics in love there be,
Which think to 'stablish dangerous constancy.
But I have told them, Since you will be true,
You shall be true to them who're false to you."

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Indifferent by John Donne: An Interpretation

When it comes to the works of John Donne, it's hard to find a poem that isn't steeped in metaphor, allusion, and complex imagery. But one of his most famous works, "The Indifferent," is a poem that seems almost simple in comparison. But don't be fooled by its apparent simplicity; "The Indifferent" is a complex and multifaceted poem that requires careful consideration to truly understand.

So, what is "The Indifferent" about? At first glance, it seems like a love poem about a man trying to woo a woman. But as is often the case with Donne's poetry, things are not so simple. In reality, "The Indifferent" is a poem about the nature of love itself.

Let's take a closer look at the poem, stanza by stanza, to see how Donne explores this theme.

First Stanza: The Speaker's Assertion of Indifference

In the first stanza, the speaker establishes the theme of indifference. He claims that he is indifferent to both love and fear, two emotions that are usually considered to be opposites. By placing them side by side, the speaker suggests that they are more similar than we might think.

The speaker goes on to say that he is also indifferent to "deserts of vast eternity," which can be interpreted as a reference to death or the afterlife. By including this reference, the speaker is suggesting that his indifference extends beyond the realm of emotions and into the realm of existence itself.

But why would someone claim to be indifferent to such fundamental aspects of human experience? The answer lies in the second stanza.

Second Stanza: The Paradox of Love

In the second stanza, the speaker begins to explore the paradoxical nature of love. He claims that love cannot be both good and bad at the same time, yet it is. This paradox is at the heart of the poem and is what gives it its complexity.

The speaker goes on to say that love is not fixed, but rather it changes over time. This is another paradox; if love is always changing, how can we ever truly understand it?

Finally, the speaker acknowledges that love is powerful enough to overcome his indifference. This is where the poem starts to become more personal, as the speaker reveals that he is trying to win someone's love.

Third Stanza: The Power of Love

In the third stanza, the speaker continues to explore the power of love. He claims that love can make us do things that we wouldn't normally do, such as "die for love." This is a common theme in Donne's poetry, as he often portrays love as a force that is both transformative and destructive.

The speaker also suggests that love can be a source of salvation. By saying that love can "raise us up" and "make us aspire," the speaker is implying that love can elevate us beyond our earthly existence.

Fourth Stanza: The Paradox of Beauty

In the fourth stanza, the speaker introduces another paradoxical aspect of love: its connection to beauty. The speaker claims that he is indifferent to beauty, yet he is trying to win the love of someone who is beautiful. This creates a tension between the speaker's stated indifference and his actual desires.

The speaker goes on to say that beauty is only skin deep and that it fades over time. This is another paradox; if beauty is fleeting, how can it be so powerful?

Fifth Stanza: The Speaker's Final Plea

In the final stanza, the speaker makes his final plea to the object of his affection. He acknowledges that he is not perfect, but he claims that he is willing to change for her. He also suggests that their love could be transformative, as it could help them both become better people.

The final line of the poem, "I am two fools, I know," is a perfect summation of the paradoxical nature of love that the speaker has been exploring throughout the poem. By admitting that he is both indifferent and in love, the speaker acknowledges the complexity of human emotions and the difficulty of understanding them.

Conclusion

"The Indifferent" is a poem that requires careful consideration and analysis to truly understand. Through its exploration of paradoxical themes such as love, beauty, and indifference, the poem reveals the complexity of human emotions and the difficulty of understanding them. Donne's use of metaphor, allusion, and complex imagery further adds to the poem's complexity and makes it a masterpiece of English poetry.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Indifferent by John Donne is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a poem that is both complex and simple, and it is a poem that speaks to the human condition in a way that few others do. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and language of The Indifferent, and we will attempt to understand what Donne was trying to convey through this masterpiece of poetry.

The first thing that strikes the reader about The Indifferent is its structure. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each consisting of six lines. The rhyme scheme is ABABCC, and the meter is iambic pentameter. This structure gives the poem a sense of order and balance, which is appropriate given the subject matter of the poem.

The poem begins with the speaker addressing his lover, saying that he is indifferent to her. He goes on to say that he is not jealous of her other lovers, nor does he care if she loves him or not. He says that he is not interested in her physical beauty, nor is he interested in her mind or her soul. He is, in short, indifferent to her in every way.

The second stanza of the poem is where things start to get interesting. The speaker begins by saying that he is not indifferent to love itself, but rather to the object of his love. He says that he loves love, but he does not love any particular person. He goes on to say that he is not interested in the physical aspects of love, but rather in the spiritual aspects. He says that he loves the idea of love, but he does not love any particular person.

The third and final stanza of the poem is where the speaker reveals the true nature of his indifference. He says that he is not indifferent to his own fate, but rather to the fate of others. He says that he is not interested in the happiness or suffering of others, but only in his own happiness or suffering. He says that he is indifferent to the world, and that he does not care about anything except himself.

The themes of The Indifferent are complex and multifaceted. On the surface, the poem is about a man who is indifferent to his lover. However, as we delve deeper into the poem, we see that it is about much more than that. The poem is about the human condition, and the ways in which we are all indifferent to the suffering of others.

One of the key themes of the poem is the idea of detachment. The speaker is detached from his lover, from love itself, and from the world around him. He is not interested in anything except himself, and he is indifferent to the suffering of others. This detachment is a reflection of the human condition, and the ways in which we are all detached from each other.

Another key theme of the poem is the idea of love. The speaker says that he loves love, but he does not love any particular person. This is a reflection of the fact that love is an abstract concept, and that it is often more about the idea of love than it is about any particular person. This theme is also related to the idea of detachment, as the speaker is detached from the physical aspects of love, and is more interested in the spiritual aspects.

The language of The Indifferent is both simple and complex. The poem is written in plain language, but it is also full of metaphors and imagery. For example, the speaker says that he is like a compass that always points to the north, regardless of where it is turned. This metaphor is a reflection of the speaker's detachment, and his inability to be swayed by the emotions of others.

Another example of the complex language in the poem is the use of paradox. The speaker says that he loves love, but he does not love any particular person. This is a paradox, as love is often seen as something that is directed towards a particular person. This use of paradox is a reflection of the complexity of the human condition, and the ways in which our emotions and desires can be contradictory.

In conclusion, The Indifferent by John Donne is a masterpiece of poetry that speaks to the human condition in a way that few other poems do. It is a poem that is both complex and simple, and it is a poem that is full of themes and ideas that are still relevant today. Through its structure, language, and themes, The Indifferent invites us to reflect on our own detachment, our own love, and our own indifference to the suffering of others. It is a poem that challenges us to be more compassionate, more empathetic, and more connected to the world around us.

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