'The Dissolution' by John Donne
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She's dead; and all which die
To their first elements resolve;
And we were mutual elements to us,
And made of one another.
My body then doth hers involve,
And those things whereof I consist hereby
In me abundant grow, and burdenous,
And nourish not, but smother.
My fire of passion, sighs of air,
Water of tears, and earthly sad despair,
Which my materials be,
But near worn out by love's security,
She, to my loss, doth by her death repair,
And I might live long wretched so
But that my fire doth with my fuel grow.
Now as those Active Kings
Whose foreign conquest treasure brings,
Receive more, and spend more, and soonest break:
This (which I am amazed that I can speak)
This death hath with my store
My use increased.
And so my soul more earnestly released
Will outstrip hers; as bullets flown before
A latter bullet may o'ertake, the powder being more.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Dissolution by John Donne
Oh, the beauty of this poem! John Donne sure knows how to paint pictures with words. The Dissolution is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a poem packed with allegories and metaphors that make it a delight to read, but also a challenging one to interpret.
At its core, The Dissolution is about the end of a relationship. The speaker is addressing his lover, telling her that their love has come to an end. However, he is not just talking about a personal relationship. The poem is also about the dissolution of the world and the end of all things.
Structure and Form
The Dissolution is a sonnet, which means it has 14 lines. It is written in iambic pentameter, which means each line has ten syllables and follows an unstressed/stressed pattern. The rhyme scheme is ABABCDCDEFEFGG.
The poem is divided into two parts, the octet and the sestet. The octet is the first eight lines, and the sestet is the last six lines. The octet sets up the problem or the question, and the sestet provides the answer or the resolution.
Analysis
The Octet
The octet sets up the central problem of the poem, the end of the relationship. The speaker tells his lover that their love has come to an end, and he uses several metaphors and allegories to describe this.
The first quatrain sets up the metaphor of the world as a book, with the end of the relationship being the end of the book:
'Tis vain to bid me love, and yet,
To chide my passion, and to steel
Thy heart to new impressions, set
To find out others, and to feel
The speaker is telling his lover that it is pointless to ask him to love her again when she has moved on to someone else. He compares her heart to a book, which she is constantly reading and searching for new stories. However, the end of their relationship is like the end of the book. Once the story is over, there is no going back.
The second quatrain continues the book metaphor and adds the allegory of the world as a stage:
No, no, I cannot love again:
He that loves once, can love no more,
If sack and sugar be a pain,
Or treason's honey please so sore.
'Tis no such cause, but I am grown
To have just thee in my regard,
End both thy world and me: for we
Are past our dancing, and must go.
The speaker says he cannot love again because he has loved once. Once the book is over, there is no going back to the beginning. He uses the example of someone who has eaten too much sugar and drank too much alcohol, and now the very thought of them is nauseating. In other words, once you have experienced something to the fullest, there is no going back.
The speaker then adds the allegory of the world as a stage. He says that their relationship was like a dance that has come to an end. They cannot dance together anymore because they are past their prime. The world is also coming to an end, and they must accept that.
The last two lines of the octet are the turning point of the poem. The speaker tells his lover that they must end the world and themselves. This is a metaphor for the end of their relationship, but it is also an allegory for the end of the world.
The Sestet
The sestet is the answer or the resolution to the problem set up in the octet. The speaker tells his lover that they must end the world and themselves, but he also says that this is not a bad thing:
Cowards, by low adventure, creep
To earth, but eagles, to the sphere
Of fire, on high, their natural seat,
And by their noble flight, appear
Such to the world, as, lightning, they
That men may think truth there, when they see
Fire fall, and lightning, if it be
But shown, and heard, and not felt, they stray.
The speaker says that cowards stay on the ground, but eagles fly high in the sky, where they belong. By ending their relationship and accepting the end of the world, they are like eagles flying to their natural seat. They are doing what is natural and right.
The last two lines of the poem are a bit enigmatic:
But, when the falling fire shall light
On your soft hair, think then I dote.
At first, it seems like the speaker is saying that he will end his lover's life by setting fire to her hair. However, this is not what he means. The falling fire is a metaphor for the end of the world. When it happens, the speaker says that his lover should think that he is crazy for loving her so much. This is a bit of a strange ending, but it reinforces the idea that the poem is not just about a personal relationship but also about the end of all things.
Interpretation
The Dissolution is a complex and layered poem. On one level, it is a poem about the end of a relationship. The speaker is telling his lover that their love has come to an end, and they must accept it. However, the poem is also about the end of the world. The speaker uses metaphors and allegories to describe the end of all things, and he suggests that it is natural and right to accept it.
One interpretation of the poem is that it is a meditation on mortality. The speaker is accepting the fact that everything must come to an end, including his own life. The metaphor of the world as a book suggests that life is a story that has a beginning and an end. The end of the relationship is like the end of the book, and the end of the world is like the end of the story of humanity.
Another interpretation is that the poem is about acceptance. The speaker is telling his lover that they must accept the end of their relationship, and by extension, they must accept the end of the world. This is not a negative thing, but a natural and necessary one. By accepting the end, they are like eagles flying to their natural seat.
Conclusion
The Dissolution is a beautiful and complex poem that combines metaphors and allegories to explore the end of a relationship and the end of the world. The poem is not just about a personal relationship but also about mortality and acceptance. The language is rich and beautiful, and the images are vivid and memorable. John Donne has created a masterpiece that will continue to be read and interpreted for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Dissolution: A Masterpiece of Metaphysical Poetry
John Donne, the 17th-century English poet, is known for his metaphysical poetry that explores complex themes of love, death, and spirituality. One of his most celebrated works is "The Dissolution," a poem that delves into the nature of the soul and its relationship with the body. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its themes, structure, and literary devices.
The poem begins with a powerful opening line: "She's dead; and all which die to their first state, / So die to sin." Here, Donne establishes the central theme of the poem: the idea that death is a necessary step towards spiritual redemption. The use of the word "she" is significant, as it suggests that the poem is about a specific person, rather than a general meditation on death. However, Donne does not reveal the identity of this person, leaving it up to the reader's interpretation.
The first stanza continues with a series of metaphors that describe the process of death. Donne compares the body to a "house," which the soul must leave behind. He also describes the soul as a "guest," which must depart from its temporary dwelling. These metaphors create a sense of detachment and separation, emphasizing the idea that the soul and body are distinct entities.
The second stanza shifts the focus to the soul itself, exploring its nature and destiny. Donne describes the soul as a "little world made cunningly," suggesting that it is a microcosm of the larger universe. He also compares it to a "diamond," which is "fixed" and "immutable." These metaphors suggest that the soul is a precious and unchanging entity, separate from the transient and mutable body.
The third stanza returns to the theme of death, exploring its transformative power. Donne writes that death is a "mighty alteration," which changes the soul's relationship with the body. He also suggests that death is a necessary step towards spiritual growth, writing that "death doth touch the resurrection." This line suggests that death is not an end in itself, but rather a means to a higher spiritual state.
The fourth stanza explores the idea of judgment, suggesting that the soul will be held accountable for its actions in life. Donne writes that the soul will be "weighed" and "measured," suggesting that it will be judged according to a strict standard. He also suggests that the soul's fate is not predetermined, writing that "if it weigh'd to light, / It must be refined." This line suggests that even if the soul is found wanting, there is still hope for redemption.
The fifth and final stanza returns to the theme of death, exploring its finality and inevitability. Donne writes that death is a "sleep," from which there is no waking. He also suggests that death is a universal experience, writing that "all mankind is of one author, and is one volume." This line suggests that death is a shared experience, which unites all of humanity.
The structure of the poem is notable for its use of quatrains, or four-line stanzas. This structure creates a sense of symmetry and balance, emphasizing the poem's themes of order and harmony. The use of iambic pentameter, a rhythmic pattern of five stressed and unstressed syllables, also creates a sense of musicality and flow.
The poem is also notable for its use of metaphysical conceits, or extended metaphors that compare two seemingly dissimilar things. For example, Donne compares the soul to a "diamond" and the body to a "house," creating a sense of contrast and tension. These metaphors create a sense of depth and complexity, inviting the reader to explore the poem's themes in greater detail.
In conclusion, "The Dissolution" is a masterpiece of metaphysical poetry that explores complex themes of death, spirituality, and redemption. Through its use of powerful metaphors, intricate structure, and musical language, the poem invites the reader to contemplate the nature of the soul and its relationship with the body. As such, it remains a timeless work of literature that continues to inspire and challenge readers to this day.
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