John Donne gives us the first hint of the poem's meaning with the title. Alchemy was a precursor to modern day chemistry. Those who performed alchemy believed they could change substances into other substances, most notably changing worthless substances into gold. Of course, no one was ever able to accomplish their goals. So alchemy is seen as something that was striven for, but never obtained.
The speaker of the poem tells the audience that he has loved passionately, but that he still does not understand love. He feels that no one can ever understand love to the point of being able to explain it completely. He states, "should I love, get, tell, till I were old, I should not find that hidden mystery."
In the second stanza, the speaker goes on to say, "That loving wretch that swears 'tis not the bodies marry, but the minds," is still not completely grasping or articulating the true nature of love. He points a finger at these people, saying they, "hope not for mind in women." This is the speaker saying that they do not want intelligent women, just women who have, "at their best, sweetness and wit."
Ultimately it seems John Donne's speaker has little patience for those who claim they can write and explain love because he feels that those same men would never love a woman with any true depth.
Monday, August 20, 2012
How can I write a detailed summary and analysis of the poem "Love's Alchemy" by Metaphysical poet John Donne?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
What is the theme of the chapter Lead?
Primo Levi's complex probing of the Holocaust, including his survival of Auschwitz and pre- and post-war life, is organized around indiv...
-
It seems most likely you are asking about Michael Halliday's theories of language. He argues children have seven main functions they use...
-
Note that these events are not in chronological order. The story is told by the narrator, looking back upon her life. The first notable even...
-
In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry has his first lesson in chapter eight of the book. While Harry has many other classes before...
-
A Dog’s Purpose is a 32 chapter novel narrated from the perspective of a dog who is repeatedly reincarnated, with his ultimate goal of disco...
-
Pluralism implies that different communities and cultures that enter a foreign one will hold on to their culture and traditions. This will l...
-
Auggie’s first day of school is rough, but it could certainly have been worse. When he gets to school, he attempts to maintain a low profile...
-
Meg Meg is the central character in the novel, and we see the action through her eyes. She is important to the novel because she, along with...
No comments:
Post a Comment