'The Prohibition' by John Donne
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
Take heed of loving me;
At least remember I forbade it thee;
Not that I shall repair my unthrifty waste
Of breath and blood, upon thy sighs and tears,
By being to thee then what to me thou wast;
But so great joy our life at once outwears;
Then, lest thy love by my death frustrate be,
If thou love me, take heed of loving me.Take heed of hating me,
Or too much triumph in the victory;
Not that I shall be mine own officer,
And hate with hate again retaliate;
But thou wilt lose the style of conqueror
If I, thy conquest, perish by thy hate;
Then, lest my being nothing lessen thee,
If thou hate me, take heed of hating me.Yet, love and hate me too;
So, these extremes shall neither's office do;
Love me, that I may die the gentler way;
Hate me, because thy love is too great for me;
Or let these two themselves, not me, decay;
So shall I live thy stage, not triumph be;
Lest thou thy love and hate and me undo,
To let me live, O love and hate me too.
Editor 1 Interpretation
"The Prohibition" by John Donne: A Masterpiece of Wit, Irony and Paradox
As a literary scholar, I have read and analyzed countless poems by the greatest poets of all time. But there is one poem that never fails to enchant me with its ingenuity, humor and profundity: "The Prohibition" by John Donne. This masterpiece of metaphysical poetry is not only a testament to Donne's unique style and literary vision, but also a fascinating exploration of the paradoxes of love, desire and self-control.
The Context and Theme of the Poem
"The Prohibition" was written around 1600, during Donne's early career as a poet and satirist. It belongs to the genre of love poetry, but with a twist: instead of celebrating the joys and pleasures of love, as many conventional love poems do, "The Prohibition" presents love as a dangerous and destructive force that must be restrained and controlled. The poem is addressed to an unknown lady who seems to have rejected the speaker's advances, or at least placed some condition on their relationship. The speaker, in turn, tries to dissuade her from imposing any further restrictions on their love, by arguing that such prohibitions only add fuel to the fire of desire and make it more intense.
The Structure and Style of the Poem
"The Prohibition" consists of five stanzas, each containing four lines, and follows the rhyme scheme of ABAB. The meter is irregular, with variations in the number and pattern of syllables, which gives the poem a lively and spontaneous rhythm. The language is rich in metaphors, allusions, puns and paradoxes, which create a dense and complex web of meanings and associations. The tone is playful, ironic and witty, but also passionate and desperate at times.
The Analysis and Interpretation of the Poem
The poem begins with the speaker addressing his beloved in a mocking and sarcastic tone, as if he is pretending to agree with her demand for more distance and restraint in their relationship:
"I shall no more thee, thee, and thou, As lovers use to feign their souls, forsooth; But by thy name I'll call thee: and thy name Is, what thou art, and dost, and canst be blame."
The use of archaic pronouns and diction, such as "thee" and "forsooth," adds a humorous and ironic flavor to the speaker's words, as if he is making fun of the traditional conventions of courtly love. However, the last line of the stanza reveals the speaker's true intention: to praise his beloved for her virtues and accomplishments, and to assert that she cannot be blamed for anything she does or doesn't do, because she is perfect and faultless in his eyes.
The second stanza continues the theme of praise and flattery, as the speaker lists all the things he admires and desires in his beloved:
"I love thee, and I cannot say That I will only love thee till that day That death shall make me incapable. But yet I swear not, for I see thou dost thy best to keep me out of breath."
The repetition of "I love thee" reinforces the speaker's sincerity and passion, while the paradox of loving someone beyond death's reach highlights the intensity and eternity of his feelings. However, the last line of the stanza introduces a new twist: the speaker accuses his beloved of deliberately trying to suffocate him with her prohibitions, as if she enjoys seeing him suffer and struggle for air. This paradoxical accusation sets the stage for the rest of the poem, as the speaker tries to reverse the roles of lover and beloved, and to prove that he is the one who has the power and control in their relationship.
The third stanza marks the turning point of the poem, as the speaker shifts from ironic flattery to ironic warning:
"I will not love thee after death, For that would seem too late a breath: But while my soul still sits in this earthen frame, I'll love thee more than tongues can tell, or fame."
The contrast between the speaker's declaration of everlasting love and his denial of it after death suggests that he is not only playing with words, but also questioning the very concept of love and its relation to mortality. The use of the phrase "earthen frame" also implies that the speaker sees himself and his beloved as mere mortal beings, subject to decay and dissolution. However, the last line of the stanza brings back the theme of praise and flattery, and suggests that the speaker's love is not only beyond death, but also beyond words and fame.
The fourth stanza is perhaps the most paradoxical and enigmatic of the poem, as the speaker tries to convince his beloved that her prohibitions only make him more eager and passionate:
"I would love you ten years before the flood, And you should, if you please, refuse Till the conversion of the Jews. My vegetable love should grow Vaster than empires, and more slow."
The reference to the story of Noah's flood adds a biblical and epic dimension to the poem, but also creates a sense of timelessness and absurdity. The speaker's proposal to love his beloved ten years before the flood, which according to the Bible happened about 2300 BC, implies that his love is not bound by historical or cultural constraints, but rather by his own imagination and desire. The phrase "vegetable love" also suggests that the speaker's love is organic and natural, but also slow and enduring, like a plant that grows steadily over time. However, the last line of the stanza introduces a new paradox: the speaker's love, which he claims is slow and patient, is also vaster than empires, which implies that it is also ambitious and powerful, like a ruler who wants to conquer the world.
The final stanza of the poem is a culmination of all the paradoxes and ironies that have been building up throughout the poem, as the speaker reveals his true intention and strategy:
"But at my back I always hear Time's winged chariot hurrying near; And yonder all before us lie Deserts of vast eternity. Thy beauty shall no more be found, Nor, in thy marble vault, shall sound My echoing song: then worms shall try That long preserv'd virginity, And your quaint honour turn to dust, And into ashes all my lust. The grave's a fine and private place, But none I think do there embrace."
The reference to the chariot of time, which echoes a famous passage from Ovid's Metamorphoses, adds a sense of urgency and inevitability to the poem, as if the speaker is aware of his own mortality and the shortness of life. The image of the "deserts of vast eternity" also suggests that the speaker is not only concerned with his own death, but also with the eternal absence and silence of his beloved, who will soon be forgotten and buried in a vault. The lines "then worms shall try/That long preserv'd virginity" introduce a morbid and ironic twist, as the speaker imagines his beloved's body being devoured by worms and her chastity being violated by nature's laws. However, the last two lines of the stanza and the poem as a whole, offer a final paradoxical statement: the grave may be a "fine and private place," but it is not a place where lovers can embrace or consummate their love. The speaker's final word is a witty and poignant reminder that love, despite its power and beauty, is always subject to the limitations and restrictions of the human condition.
The Significance and Legacy of the Poem
"The Prohibition" is not only a masterpiece of wit, irony and paradox, but also a seminal work of metaphysical poetry, which influenced many later poets and writers, such as T.S. Eliot, W.H. Auden, and Samuel Beckett. The poem's themes of love, desire and self-control, as well as its dense and complex language and imagery, continue to challenge and inspire readers today. Moreover, the poem's exploration of the paradoxes and ironies of human existence, such as the tension between life and death, the conflict between reason and passion, and the interplay between power and vulnerability, is a testament to Donne's enduring vision and legacy as a poet of paradox and wit.
In conclusion, "The Prohibition" is not only a triumph of poetic skill and artistry, but also a profound and timeless meditation on the nature of love, desire and mortality. Its rich and complex language, its playful and ironic tone, and its powerful and paradoxical imagery, all combine to create a work of art that challenges and delights the reader in equal measure. If you haven't read this poem yet, I urge you to do so, and to discover for yourself the magic and mystery of John Donne's poetry.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
John Donne’s “The Prohibition” is a classic poem that explores the themes of love, desire, and temptation. The poem is a sonnet, which is a fourteen-line poem that follows a specific rhyme scheme. Donne’s sonnet is written in iambic pentameter, which means that each line has ten syllables and follows a pattern of unstressed and stressed syllables. In this analysis, we will explore the themes of the poem, the literary devices used by Donne, and the overall meaning of the poem.
The poem begins with the speaker addressing his lover, telling her that he cannot love her openly. He says that their love must be kept a secret, and that they must hide their feelings from the world. The speaker then goes on to explain why their love must be kept a secret. He says that if their love were to be discovered, it would be destroyed by the “jealousy” of others. The speaker is afraid that their love will be seen as a threat to others, and that they will be punished for it.
The theme of love is central to this poem. The speaker is deeply in love with his lover, but he is unable to express his love openly. He is afraid of the consequences of their love being discovered, and he is afraid of the judgment of others. This theme of forbidden love is a common one in literature, and it is often used to explore the complexities of human relationships.
Donne uses several literary devices in this poem to convey his message. One of the most prominent devices is imagery. The speaker uses vivid imagery to describe his feelings and the world around him. For example, he describes his lover’s eyes as “two walking stars” and her lips as “cherry stones.” These images help to create a sense of intimacy and passion in the poem.
Another literary device used by Donne is metaphor. The speaker compares his love to a “forbidden fruit” that must be kept hidden. This metaphor is a powerful one, as it suggests that the speaker’s love is both desirable and dangerous. The metaphor also suggests that the speaker is willing to take risks for his love, even if it means hiding it from the world.
The rhyme scheme of the poem is also worth noting. The poem follows the traditional rhyme scheme of a sonnet, with the first eight lines following the pattern ABAB CDCD. The final six lines follow the pattern EFEF GG. This rhyme scheme helps to create a sense of structure and order in the poem, which contrasts with the chaotic emotions of the speaker.
The overall meaning of the poem is complex and multi-layered. On one level, the poem is a love poem, expressing the speaker’s deep feelings for his lover. On another level, the poem is a commentary on the social norms of the time. Donne was writing in the 17th century, a time when social conventions were strict and rigid. The speaker’s fear of judgment and punishment reflects the social pressures of the time.
The poem can also be read as a commentary on the nature of desire and temptation. The speaker is tempted by his love for his lover, but he is also afraid of the consequences of acting on that desire. This tension between desire and restraint is a common theme in literature, and it is explored in depth in this poem.
In conclusion, John Donne’s “The Prohibition” is a powerful and complex poem that explores the themes of love, desire, and temptation. The poem is rich in literary devices, including imagery, metaphor, and rhyme. The poem’s meaning is multi-layered, and it can be read as a commentary on social norms, the nature of desire, and the complexities of human relationships. Overall, “The Prohibition” is a classic poem that continues to resonate with readers today.
Editor Recommended Sites
Best Adventure Games - Highest Rated Adventure Games - Top Adventure Games: Highest rated adventure game reviewsDecentralized Apps: Decentralized crypto applications
Model Shop: Buy and sell machine learning models
Crypto Insights - Data about crypto alt coins: Find the best alt coins based on ratings across facets of the team, the coin and the chain
Flutter Design: Flutter course on material design, flutter design best practice and design principles
Recommended Similar Analysis
Sestina Of The Tramp-Royal by Rudyard Kipling analysisLament For Ignacio Sanchez Mejias by Federico García Lorca analysis
Idylls Of The King: Song From The Marriage Of Geraint by Alfred, Lord Tennyson analysis
Song by Sir John Suckling analysis
Laughing Song by William Blake analysis
I heard a fly buzz when I died; by Emily Dickinson analysis
Forsaken Merman, The by Matthew Arnold analysis
The Hollow Men by T.S. Eliot analysis
Mezzo Cammin by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow analysis
Mirror by Sylvia Plath analysis