It seems like a lot of John Donne's poems are about love. This, too, also seems like a love poem. The way he chooses his words and "talks" to God is in a very private way- the way two people involved in a relationship would speak to eachother, or the way someone who is completely infatuated would speak. An example of this would be lines 12-14:
Take me to you, inprison me, for I,
Except you enthrall me, never shall be free,
Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me.
Donne wants God to be his "one and only." He wants to focus his life on his God, and that is what is most important to him.
He also speaks of the devil and how he tries to take over. The speaker says that he is "betrothed unto your enemy." By this, as I understand it, he is saying that he has sinned. He has done things that he knew were wrong, and is now asking for God's forgiveness: Divorce me, untie or break that knot again...
John Donne wants to be relieved of his sins, and wants to go back to living his life with God.
I really like how you explained the poem as Donne speaking intimately with God, as if in a relationship. I did not fully capture the meaning of this poem, which you have done.
ReplyDeleteI never thought about the poem being about God, and I like that idea. Good job!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the poem's title wasn't Holy Sonnet, what else it would be or what else this poem would be about. It may even be about love in general. I liked how you said "whip him into shape" because I thought of that too. Good job.
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