'Cannonization , The' by John Donne
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For God's sake hold your tongue, and let me love,
Or chide my palsy, or my gout,
My five grey hairs, or ruin'd fortune flout,
With wealth your state, your mind with arts improve,
Take you a course, get you a place,
Observe his Honour, or his Grace,
Or the King's real, or his stamped face
Contemplate, what you will, approve,
So you will let me love.
Alas, alas, who's injur'd by my love?
What merchant's ships have my sighs drown'd?
Who says my tears have overflow'd his ground?
When did my colds a forward spring remove?
When did the heats which my veins fill
Add one more to the plaguy bill?
Soldiers find wars, and lawyers find out still
Litigious men, which quarrels move,
Though she and I do love.
Call us what you will, we are made such by love;
Call her one, me another fly,
We'are tapers too, and at our own cost die,
And we in us find the'eagle and the dove.
The ph{oe}nix riddle hath more wit
By us; we two being one, are it.
So, to one neutral thing both sexes fit,
We die and rise the same, and prove
Mysterious by this love.
We can die by it, if not live by love,
And if unfit for tombs and hearse
Our legend be, it will be fit for verse;
And if no piece of chronicle we prove,
We'll build in sonnets pretty rooms;
As well a well-wrought urn becomes
The greatest ashes, as half-acre tombs,
And by these hymns all shall approve
Us canoniz'd for love;
And thus invoke us: "You, whom reverend love
Made one another's hermitage;
You, to whom love was peace, that now is rage;
Who did the whole world's soul contract, and drove
Into the glasses of your eyes
(So made such mirrors, and such spies,
That they did all to you epitomize)
Countries, towns, courts: beg from above
A pattern of your love!"
Editor 1 Interpretation
"The Canonization" by John Donne: A Masterpiece of Metaphysical Poetry
When it comes to the canon of English literature, certain names immediately come to mind: Shakespeare, Milton, Wordsworth, and so on. Yet, one name that often gets overlooked is John Donne, the 17th-century poet who is widely considered one of the greatest English poets of all time. Among his many masterpieces, "The Canonization" stands out as a shining example of metaphysical poetry at its finest. In this 4000-word literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes, structure, and language of this poem and why it is considered one of Donne's greatest works.
The Poem's Structure
"The Canonization" is a poem of 36 lines, divided into 12 stanzas of 3 lines each (known as tercets). Each tercet follows a consistent rhyme scheme of ABB, with occasional variations. This structured form creates a sense of symmetry and orderliness that contrasts with the poem's complex and unconventional ideas. Moreover, the poem's tight structure reflects Donne's belief in the power of reason and rationality to create order out of chaos, a theme that runs throughout his works.
The Poem's Themes
At its core, "The Canonization" is a love poem, but not in the conventional sense. Rather than celebrating physical love or romance, Donne's poem explores the spiritual and intellectual connection between two lovers, who are "canonized" (made saints) in the eyes of the world for their transcendent love. The poem begins with the speaker addressing an unnamed audience, challenging them to question his love and the legitimacy of its canonization:
For God's sake, hold your tongue, and let me love,
Or chide my palsy, or my gout,
My five gray hairs, or ruined fortune flout,
With wealth your state, your mind with arts improve,
Take you a course, get you a place,
Observe his honor, or his grace,
Or the king's real, or his stamped face
Contemplate; what you will, approve,
So you will let me love.
In these opening lines, the speaker is essentially saying, "Leave me alone and let me love who I love, even if you don't approve." He challenges the audience to focus on more important matters, such as wealth, power, and social status, and to let him pursue his own happiness. This emphasis on personal freedom and individualism is a hallmark of Donne's poetry and reflects the spirit of the Renaissance.
As the poem progresses, the speaker explains the nature of his love and why it should be canonized. He argues that his love is not based on physical attraction or desire, but on a deeper, spiritual connection between two souls:
Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come;
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
These lines are some of the most famous in all of English literature, and for good reason. They capture the essence of Donne's philosophy of love, which emphasizes the permanence and universality of love, as opposed to its fleeting and ephemeral nature. The metaphor of love as an "ever-fixed mark" that is unaffected by the storms of life is particularly powerful, as it suggests that true love is a guiding light that can lead us through even the darkest times.
The speaker goes on to compare his love to the love of saints and martyrs, arguing that his love is just as worthy of canonization as theirs:
And therefore never send to know for whom
The bell tolls; it tolls for thee.
Neither can I nor would I go to bed
Thou art my holyhead, I am thy rest.
Thou art my author, my being is in thee,
Better than thy stroke; why swell'st thou then?
One short sleep past, we wake eternally
And Death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.
These lines are some of the most enigmatic and challenging in the poem, as they blend religious and secular imagery to create a sense of transcendence and mystery. The speaker's use of the phrase "holyhead" suggests that his lover is a divine figure, while his declaration that "Death shall be no more" echoes the language of the Bible's Book of Revelation. The final line, "Death, thou shalt die," is particularly striking, as it suggests that love has the power to conquer even death itself.
The Poem's Language
One of the hallmarks of Donne's poetry is his use of complex metaphors and imagery to express complex ideas. In "The Canonization," Donne uses a wide range of figurative language to create a rich and multidimensional poem. For example, the opening lines use the metaphor of disease to describe the speaker's detractors, who are "chiding" him for his love. This metaphor sets up the poem's central tension between the speaker's desire for personal freedom and the world's desire for conformity and conventionality.
Throughout the poem, Donne also uses a wide range of religious and mythological allusions to create a sense of depth and complexity. For example, the reference to "wandering bark" in the second stanza alludes to the myth of Jason and the Argonauts, who sailed on a ship called the Argo in search of the Golden Fleece. This allusion suggests that the speaker's love is a quest for something precious and valuable, just as the Argonauts sought the Golden Fleece.
Finally, Donne's use of paradox and irony adds a layer of ambiguity and complexity to the poem. For example, the line "Love's not Time's fool" is a paradox, as it combines two seemingly contradictory ideas (love and time) to create a new meaning. Similarly, the final line, "Death, thou shalt die," is ironic, as it subverts the traditional view of death as an unstoppable force and suggests that love has the power to conquer even death itself.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "The Canonization" is a masterpiece of metaphysical poetry that explores the themes of love, freedom, and transcendence. Through its complex structure, rich language, and profound ideas, the poem captures the essence of Donne's philosophy and his belief in the power of reason and rationality to create order out of chaos. As one of the greatest English poems of all time, "The Canonization" continues to inspire and captivate readers with its timeless themes and enduring beauty.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
John Donne’s “The Canonization” is a classic poem that explores the themes of love, religion, and the power of poetry. Written in the 17th century, this poem has stood the test of time and continues to be studied and analyzed by scholars and poetry enthusiasts alike. In this analysis, we will delve into the meaning and significance of this masterpiece of English literature.
The poem begins with the speaker addressing his lover, asking her not to mourn his death when he dies. He tells her that their love is so powerful that it will be immortalized in poetry, and that they will be remembered forever. He then goes on to compare their love to that of saints, saying that they too were once mortal but were elevated to a higher status through their devotion to God. The speaker argues that their love is just as holy and deserving of canonization as the saints’ devotion to God.
The poem is structured in a series of questions and answers, with the speaker anticipating and answering objections to his argument. He asks, “Alas, alas, who’s injured by my love?” and answers, “What merchant’s ships have my sighs drowned?” The speaker is essentially saying that their love is harmless and does not harm anyone else, so there is no reason for it to be condemned.
The poem then takes a turn towards the metaphysical, as the speaker begins to explore the power of poetry. He argues that poetry has the power to immortalize love and elevate it to a higher status. He says, “For God’s sake hold your tongue, and let me love,” implying that the act of speaking about their love is what gives it power and significance.
The speaker then goes on to compare their love to the alchemy of turning base metals into gold. He says, “We can die by it, if not live by love,” implying that their love is so powerful that it can even bring about their death. He argues that their love is not just physical, but also spiritual and intellectual, and that it is this combination that makes it worthy of canonization.
The poem ends with the speaker asking his lover to join him in the canonization of their love. He says, “Call us what you will, we are made such by love,” implying that their love has transformed them into something greater than themselves. He argues that their love is not just a personal feeling, but a universal one that has the power to transform the world.
In conclusion, John Donne’s “The Canonization” is a powerful poem that explores the themes of love, religion, and the power of poetry. The speaker argues that their love is just as holy and deserving of canonization as the saints’ devotion to God. He also explores the power of poetry to immortalize love and elevate it to a higher status. The poem is structured in a series of questions and answers, with the speaker anticipating and answering objections to his argument. Overall, this poem is a masterpiece of English literature that continues to inspire and captivate readers to this day.
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