Summary of the poem the undertaking by john donne. Poem Analysis of The Undertaking by John Donne for close reading 2022-10-29
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In "The Undertaking," John Donne meditates on the inevitability of death and the human desire to avoid it. He begins the poem by addressing Death directly, asking why it must come for all people, regardless of their status or accomplishments. He then reflects on how people try to evade death, either through religious rituals or by seeking out the fountain of youth.
However, Donne ultimately concludes that these attempts are futile. He suggests that Death is not an enemy, but rather a necessary part of life, a "kindly" guide that helps us reach our ultimate destination. He compares Death to a ferryman, who helps us cross the river of life into the afterlife.
Throughout the poem, Donne employs a number of literary devices to emphasize his points. For example, he uses personification to give human qualities to Death and to the idea of life as a journey. He also uses metaphors and similes to compare Death to a ferryman and to describe how people try to escape it.
Overall, "The Undertaking" is a powerful meditation on the human experience of death and our attempts to come to terms with it. Donne's use of language and imagery helps to convey his message that death is an inherent part of life and that we must accept it as such.
The Good
I can love a woman who believes in my love or who wants to put my love to test. Stanza 6: I will give no more; I will rather destroy the world by my dying, because my love will die too with me. He wishes to be conveyed straight to his grave without so much as a question about the hair. There is a dig at woman's constancy because a grave can accommodate more than one corpse at a time. Second, because of the idea that romantic love can mirror the joys and revelations of religious devotion. The unusual comparisons - grave and woman, lovers and guardian angels, the beloved and Mary Magdalen add to the charm of the poem. To do so would be to challenge Which will no faith on this bestow, or if they do, deride.
I bequeath my eyes to Argus a mythological giant with 100 eyes if my eyes can see after death; otherwise, they go to the god of Love who is blind. How it is possible to find 'bright hair' when the grave is full of dust and insects, is not explained by the poet. Let women rest assured that constancy is a vice. She came back and reported: "Alas, there are two or three women who want to remain true and faithful in their love". The later lovers will feel that their love will be rewarded with success if they worship the relic.
Feminist critics view this final stanza with interest, as Renaissance women found slander one of their greatest dangers. We make no warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability and suitability with respect to the information. As such they will continue to remain addicted to sex and fleshly love. She assured the poet that in spite of his insistence on woman's constancy as a virtue there are only two or three in the world who would like to be faithful in love. This is what love has taught me to give my love to a lady who does not want it and who is incapable of responding to it. He describes how important the token is to him.
Therefore, the relic will be adored by some men. The achievement of the poet lies in knowing the real nature of love and keeping the secret to himself. Moreover, some other poems also connected with Herbert, like Stanza 1: It is quite likely that when at some future date, my grave is dug up to make room for the internment of some other body probably the graves have learned from women the trick of entertaining more than one person in their bed , the grave-digger will find a bracelet of bright hair on my wrist-bone. His speaker begins, I have done one braver thing Than all the Worthies did An yet a braver thence doth spring, Which is, to keep that hid. Donne adopts outward appearance, enhanced by the false reflection of color and style in a woman's dress, as a metaphor for deception. Donne claims to have found a virtuous woman. She will ask her living lover for help, but he will turn away, leaving her alone to fear him.
The Undertaking is a poem of Platonic love, quite different from those on the physical enjoyment of women. His achievement is greater because he has kept his discovery to himself and not leaked it to the common run of men. It is strange that now she has gone to some other man. The reference to 'worthies' the great men of the past in different branches of art makes the poet's achievement truly great. He simply cannot love a faithful woman.
The references to Argus, Capuchin, Schismatics of Amsterdam and the schoolmen show the classical learning of the poet. Such relics will be worshipped by the lovers for their miraculous powers. Similarly, he gifts his tears to women who shed too many tears. The poet is bequeathing all his possessions to those who do not need them. He first makes his gifts to those who already have such things and do not need them.
Use the criteria sheet to understand greatest poems or improve your poetry analysis essay. While a master of metaphysical expression, Donne achieves this mastery by refusing to deny the place of the physical world and its passions. In the poem, 'The Indifferent' John Donne believes that all women are faithless. She insists on "inconstancy among her followers; the few women who disobey her by being true shall be punished with false lovers. Those who understand the real mystery of love pay regard to the virtue in woman and not to her physical blandishments. Stanza 3: Venus the goddess of love and beauty according to the Roman myth - heard my song in praise of the inconstancy of woman and took an oath that variety is charming and that she would no more be constant and faithful. I can love any woman provided she is not faithful or loyal.
What is the meaning of The Undertaking by John Donne?
He bequeaths his eyes to Argus - a giant who has a hundred eyes. The paradox in the last stanza is rather cynical - the faithful woman will discover that her lover is false to her. It is in the fitness of things that when love dies, the world should also die. What amazes the reader, is the poet's confession of his own fickleness in love. In fact, I am giving away to them the things that belonged to them. Love is not the body or sex, just as a woman is not the clothes she wears. It is a discovery of great substance and value.
If they remain true, they will be true to men who are unfaithful to them. The lady may be sentimental and tearful or stone-hearted; it is just the same to him. They suffer from the stings of conscience. It is the loveliness which brings joy and bliss to the ideal lover. They have the example of their mothers who were as false and faithless as they are. The idea of death is emphasized by the grave and the Day of Judgment. This is a poem of fancy where the miracle of hair in the grave sets the ball rolling.
Poem Analysis of The Undertaking by John Donne for close reading
The reference to 'specular stone' - a rare crystal glass - used in ancient times reveals the poet's knowledge of mythology and archaeology. Are you not bored with your old vices and do you want to find new vices? She had never come across such an original concept. It were but The When he To cut it, can find none. Now, like a broken mirror, the many pieces of his heart are too weak for love again. The poet regards constancy as a great vice which women should avoid.
