John Donnes’ “A Valediction: Forbidden Mourning” Essay

In the poem A Valediction Forbidding Mourning, by behind Donne, the speaker system is consoling his bangr who is mournful of the speakers imminent departure. The speaker is saying that since they have stronger than ordinary contend for one another, their pick out entrust endure the withdrawal. Donne uses meta natural conceits and comparative imagery to illustrate the crux of the poem. The speaker is reassuring his distinguishr by reminding her of how great their love is it transcends the physical and therefore get out overcome whatever obstacle is set on their path. He is forbidding his lover to mourn his departure.In the first half of the poem the speaker contrasts their love between that of spiritual and material objects the inferior actions of the earth comp atomic number 18d to those of the heavenly spheres (11). He is trying to prove to his lover how their love is not of the ordinary kind it is much than simple affection. He comp ares their love to that of pure gold sa ying let us melt, and make no noise (5). Pure gold, when melted, does not spatter, it melts down smoothly. thence he is saying that if there love was gold it would make no noise for their love is that of the purest kind. The speaker then says that earthly things bring harm and fears (9) but since their love is above earthly publications, they should consequently not be afraid of parting. The speaker feels that there should be no grieving and exaggerates his lovers anguish, telling her there should be no tear-floods, nor sigh-tempests (6).The narrator talks of dull sublunary loverswhose souls are sense (13/14) these lesser play offs love is based upon the five senses. He is saying that love cannot be simply based upon these senses, which are purely physical. Love has to transcend the physical to be pure and their love does. The speakers tone then turns comforting by saying that they both know that their love is more than physical therefore they should be at ease. A physical inter val is ensuing but not an emotional one their love willing endure. He describes their cardinal soulswhich are one (21).He says that their separation will not be a breach but an expansion (24) of their love their souls are united and cannot be separated by whatever forces shall come in their way. He continues to develop the image between their love and pure gold by saying that through this separation their souls will simply spreadapart to aery thinness (24) but never separate (as does pure gold when flattened).Donne compares the couple to a geometrical compass, a metaphor which carries twain significant meanings. The first being the idea of a compass being two separate entities, two feet, which are attached but not always together. He says that the compass is them, separate beings but windlessness united as one, by their soul. One groundwork of the compass will stay as the other moves around and away, and the stationary foot hearkens after it (31) but is unable join the other. T he speaker is making the purpose that not matter how far one of them may travel they will always complete the circle and eventually return to the beginning. The compass also portrays their love as a circle. A circle is an image of perfection never ending and continuing for eternity as is their love. The speaker is saying that no matter how far apart they may travel they will always come back to one another. He may travel far but he will draw his circle just, and end, where he began (36).The speaker described before how their love transcends the physical, it is deeper than sex and arousal of the senses. In the final stanzas though, the speaker addresses all the factors of any healthy relationship. The speaker says that his compass foot, as it draws nearer home, grows erect (32), an allusion to the sexual component of their relationship. Despite the awesome power of an emotionally based relationship there is still a strong a physical aspect. He misses her with his soul but also physi cally yearns for her.This poem is written to comfort a lover. Donne opens with comparative images of the physical and earthly, saying that the sentiment between the two lovers is more than earthly love. He then uses metaphysical conceits, comparisons of unrelated objectsthe physical and the spiritualto further emphasize his point. The two compasses, no matter how far apart they travel will always return to the other. If one is truly in love then physical separation does not matter if anything it will only strengthen the union. The feelings between the speaker and his lover are greater than common love, therefore they can endure the separation the speakers departure should notbe mourned.