The flea john donne analysis. A Short Analysis of John Donne’s ‘The Flea’ 2022-11-05
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"The Flea" is a poem written by John Donne that presents an extended metaphor of a flea as a symbol of the union between two lovers. At first glance, the poem may seem to be a simple and lighthearted discussion of a flea that has bitten both the speaker and his lover. However, as the poem progresses, it becomes clear that the speaker is using the flea and its actions as a way to persuade his lover to give in to his advances and engage in sexual activity.
The speaker begins by describing the flea as a "little wanton" creature that has "sucked" the blood of both him and his lover. He then points out that the flea has created a "marriage bed" by merging their two bloods together within the flea's body. The speaker uses this as an argument for why they should also "sleep together" in a physical sense, arguing that their union through the flea's bite is a "marvelous unity" that should be celebrated and repeated.
The speaker then goes on to use the flea as a way to downplay the significance of their sexual encounter. He argues that since the flea has already "mixt" their blood together, the act of sexual intercourse would not be any more sinful than what has already occurred. The speaker also asserts that their union through the flea's bite has already made them "one flea, two bodies" and that their physical union would not really change anything.
Despite the speaker's attempts to persuade his lover, she remains resistant and tries to brush the flea off her clothing. The speaker then becomes more desperate, saying that the flea's death would be a "sin" because it would be a separation of their two bloods. He also uses the flea's death as a metaphor for their own death, saying that if the flea dies, it would be a "death of princely faith" and a "desolating" loss.
Overall, "The Flea" is a poem that uses a seemingly insignificant and insignificant creature, the flea, as a way to explore and persuade the union between two lovers. While the speaker's arguments may seem persuasive at first, they ultimately rely on the idea that sex is a meaningless and insignificant act that does not have any real consequences. This perspective is ultimately undermined by the speaker's own desperation and the significance he attributes to the flea's death, which suggests that there may be deeper consequences to their actions.
The Flea John Donne Analysis
Key characteristics of metaphysical poetry include: complicated mental and emotional experience; unusual and sometimes deliberately contrived metaphors and similes; and the idea that the physical and spiritual universes are connected. He is regarded as a key figure of the Elizabethan and Jacobean literary world and perhaps second only to Shakespeare in terms of the influence a writer of that time had on subsequent English literature. As he continues to make this unconvincing argument to his beloved, she kills the flea at the beginning of the third stanza, probably from his almost mockingly sounding poem about a big step in their relationship. The poet has said his piece, and ends by subtly joining himself with the woman verbally. You will lose as little honor as the blood taken by the flea from your body, if you yield to me just as you have lost hardly any blood by the action of the flea, in the same way you will hardly lose your honor if you yield your body to me. He draws her attention to the fact that now that their bloods are already mingled and mixed, giving herself to him would not be considered as a shame or a sin or loss of her virginity as they are already one entity.
In that case the poet reasons, seductively , the woman would feel no shame if she allowed herself to be seduced by the poet. Line 16 has two trochees apt to kill me which break the iambic flow suddenly whilst line 18 offers a spondee to focus on three sins being committed. Just as the two lovers are united in the temple in a bond of marriage, so the two bloods have been united in the body of the flea. There is no doubt that the poet's plea for physical union is both personal and original. But being the witty and clever author John Donne was, it is by no surprise that most people raise their eye brows after reading his poem titled The Flea. Cruel and sudden, hast thou since Purpled thy nail, in blood of innocence? A very avid theme of poetic conceit is used in the duration of this poem.
This tiny parasite has recently sucked blood from them both, as is their instinct, so the man takes this opportunity to put forward an argument for sexual union to the woman, based on the now swollen flea. Wherein could this flea guilty be, Except in that drop which it sucked from thee? It may not be politically correct, but it is highly erotic. The male speaker wishes to make love to a resisting lady. James Reeve calls the poem "cynical and unpleasant", while A. By the end of the poem, the flea that had brought the two lovers together by blood has been killed, but the argument that it has inspired has been brought to its culmination. However, critics differ about the justification of sexual relationships.
He has not been successful so far, but we do not know what will happen next. This flea is both you and I together, its body is like our marriage bed and as subtle as the temple in which our marriage would take place. And reiterates how the flea is doing far more than them even if they are to be married, since it shares all three souls. He argues that although she wants to kill the flea, doing so would mean killing herself, himself, and the flea. It is indeed a very humorous method of extending the metaphor to add life to the poem. He carries his conceit through, now giving her no reason not to sleep with him, he argues that killing the flea was an easy thing, as she shows it did not harm them, he claims then yielding to him would have just been as easy and painless as killing the flea.
GradeSaver, 10 June 2012 Web. They are, as it were, sharing bodily fluids. Is more than we would do. The title is little deceiving but is appropriate to the intention of the poem as John Donne uses the insect — flea — to reveal the desires of the speaker. John Donne — The Flea — Analysis John Donne is famous for his metaphors that reflect his sexual ideas or desires beneath the lines of the poem. To summarize, this work is a metaphysical play with words, wherein themes such as lust, religious imagery, and playful nature are being used. The act of physical union would cause virtually no serious harm to her reputation.
It would be triple murder if she killed the READ ALSO!!! Iambic feet in lines 23,24 but normality we suspect is hardly restored? His works are notable for their realistic style and include sonnets and love poetry. The woman is probably a virgin. From a female point of view, the wittily blasphemous argument is impressive not so much for its details as for its persistence. He chides her for her cruelty. He claims that the insect was innocent and wants to know the sin of the creature! He also says that it is the place where they are married within the walls of the insect. You may follow the usual convention of killing the lover but please do not commit suicide.
The listener "thou"was his lover, I think he loved her verymuchandevenwanttomakelovewith her,butshedidn't. And that word cloistered comes from cloister, a covered walkway in a monastery. What Is The Meaning of The Flea? He says that the flea can suck his blood, and then jump to the girls and suck her blood, and share all three of the souls in one body. In fact, the male speaker in the poem assumes the position of the woman seduced rather than that of the invading flea, whose conduct provides a medium for his contention. What Is The Rhyme Scheme of The Flea? From simple essay plans, through to full dissertations, you can guarantee we have a service perfectly matched to your needs. Thus there is no reason to have sex.
Buy Study Guide The speaker uses the occasion of a flea hopping from himself to a young lady as an excuse to argue that the two of them should make love. The Flea is structured to mirror the three protagonists, flea, man and woman, so there are three rhyming couplets, a triplet in each stanza and three stanzas. Besides, the flea pricked her and got what it wanted without having to woo her. In the last stanza, she crushes the fly, not paying any heed or attention to his advances on her. Our academic experts are ready and waiting to assist with any writing project you may have.
