JOHN DONNE AS A METAPHYSICAL POET
INTRODUCTION: John Donne is the leader and founder of the
Metaphysical school of poetry. His poetry is a revolt against the popular current.
First of all Dryden used the term ' Metaphysical' for Donne's poetry. He said,'
Donne affects the metaphysics'. Later on Dr. Johnson called Donne and his
followers 'the metaphysical poets'. Since then the word metaphysical has been
used for Donne and his followers.
WHAT IS METAPHYSICAL POETRY: The term metaphysics means something
supernatural and transcendental. Its sense is 'what is beyond physical'. It is
concerned with fundamental problems of life and death and soul even after
death. The term metaphysical poetry means poetry dealing with metaphysical
subjects.
These subjects are - nature of universe, movements of stars and
planets and the whole relationship of man to God.
MAIN CHARACTERISTICS: We should cast a glance at the main
characteristics of metaphysical poetry before we proceed to examine Donne as a
metaphysical poet.
Novel thought and expressions, conceit, wit, obscurity and
learning are the main characteristics of Metaphysical poetry. All these
important characteristics are found in Donne's poetry.
AS A METAPHYSICAL POET: When Dryden, Johnson and Dowden called
Donne a metaphysical poet, they referred to the style of Donne. But when De
Quincey disagreed with them, he toned up Donne's subject matter.
His poetry is
metaphysical because of his individualism and his quest for learning. His
poetry is full of wit. It is obscure and it indulges in far fetched conceits.
It fuses thought and emotion. It is logical, analytical and mystical.
LEARNING: The Metaphysical poets were men of learning. Their
poetry reveals their scholarship. From this point of view, Donne is a great
metaphysical poet. To show his learning is his chief object. In his poetry he
has twisted his vast learning.
Due to this his poetry becomes very difficult to
understand. In Donne's poetry, there is always an antithesis between natural
and divine knowledge. Donne's pre- occupation with mortality and death fills
his poetry with a macabre element. In his fine sonnet 'Death Be Not Proud' he
hates death and says:
One short sleep past, Wee wake eternally,
And death shall be no more, Death thou
shalt die.
NEW THOUGHTS AND EXPRESSIONS: Donne's poetry is purely intellectual and
it makes an appeal to the intellectuals. His thoughts are often new. He has
expressed his thoughts in a unique manner. In short, he played with thoughts.
In ' The Canonization' 'The Flea' and " Death Be Not Proud' one can easily
find Donne's new thoughts and expressions.
OBSCURITY: Obscurity is one of the important features of Donne's
poetry. In his poetry we find obscurity and vagueness of subject. This is
linked with sensibility of literary wit and philosophical conceptions. He
frequently combines dissimilar ideas. Thus his poetry is harsh, obscure and
puzzling. Saintsbury is right when he calls him a very great and very puzzling
poet.
WIT: Wit is one of the chief characteristics of
Metaphysical poetry. This important feature can be found everywhere in Donne's
poetry. It fashions his feeling and thought. Passion sentiment and sensuality
are subordinated to wit.
His wit is unique in the discovery of comparison and
analogies. It is realistic and straightforward. It looks to run side by side
with humour and irony. The heterogeneous material is compelled into unity by
the rapid association of thoughts. ‘The Flea' is a beautiful example of it.
CONCEIT: Conceit is an important feature of Metaphysical
poetry. Donne makes an abundant use of conceits. It is an instrument to reveal
wit. The conceit is a comparison between two unlike objects or things. In
short, it is a far- fetched comparison. Donne's conceits are far- fetched and
his imagery is obscure.
We can easily point out some of the conceits in Donne's
poetry. In his popular poem 'The Flea' the flea becomes a marriage bed. It is
because it bites the beloved after biting the poet:
This flea is
you and I, and this
Our
marriage bed, and marriage temple is.
CONCLUSION: As a poet of love, too, Donne is a
Metaphysical poet. For him love is not physical but spiritual. Thus it can be
said that Donne plunged deep in Metaphysical pursuits. His selection of subject
matter, his treatment, his diction and style prove him to be a true and great
metaphysical poet.
About the author:
Dr. Hareshwar Roy,
Professor of English at Govt. P.G. College, Satna, Madhya Pradesh, obtained his
bachelor and master degrees in English from Patna University Patna, Bihar. He
completed his Ph.D. from A.P.S. University Rewa, Madhya Pradesh. His ‘The
Diasporic Articulation in the Novels of M.G. Vassanji’ is an incisive book that
makes an in-depth study of the novels of M.G. Vassanji who is one of the best
known literary members of Indian Diaspora. His research papers (more than 40)
have been widely published in reputed literary journals.
Currently he is
teaching English Literature in Govt. Autonomous P.G. College Satna, Madhya
Pradesh. He has attended a number of seminars and conferences. His area of
interest is the writing of the writers of Indian diaspora.
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