'The Good-Morrow' by John Donne

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I wonder, by my troth, what thou and I
Did, till we loved?were we not weaned till then,
But sucked on country pleasures, childishly?
Or snorted we in the seven sleepers' den?
'Twas so; but this, all pleasures fancies be.
If ever any beauty I did see,
Which I desired, and got, 'twas but a dream of thee.And now good morrow to our waking souls,
Which watch not one another out of fear;
For love all love of other sights controls,
And makes one little room an everywhere.
Let sea discovers to new worlds have gone,
Let maps to others, worlds on worlds have shown:
Let us possess one world; each hath one, and is one.
My face in thine eye, thine in mine appears,
And true plain hearts do in the faces rest;
Where can we find two better hemishperes,
Without sharp North, without declining West?
Whatever dies was not mixed equally;
If our two loves be one, or thou and I
Love so alike that none do slacken, none can die.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Good-Morrow by John Donne: A Celebration of Love and Spiritual Awakening

Have you ever experienced a moment of pure bliss that transcends time and space, leaving you feeling connected to something greater than yourself? That's the feeling that John Donne captures in his poem, "The Good-Morrow." In this masterpiece of metaphysical poetry, Donne explores the depths of love, spirituality, and the human experience in a way that is both profound and relatable.

In this 4000 word literary criticism, we'll delve into the themes, imagery, and language used in "The Good-Morrow," and explore how Donne's poetic techniques contribute to the overall meaning of the poem.

Themes

At its core, "The Good-Morrow" is a celebration of profound love and spiritual awakening. The poem begins with the speaker addressing his lover, asking if they remember the days before their love had fully blossomed. He says that those days were like a dream, and that they were only truly awakened once they had found each other.

This idea of awakening is central to the poem. The speaker suggests that their love has opened up a whole new world to them, one that they were previously unaware of. He says that "our waking souls" are now fully awake, and that they are "one another's world entire." This suggests that their love has become their entire reality, and that they have entered into a kind of spiritual union.

This idea of spiritual awakening is further explored in the second stanza, where the speaker compares their love to a "hemisphere" that is "reversed" by their love. This is a metaphor for the way that their love has turned their world upside down, revealing a new reality that was previously hidden. The speaker goes on to say that their love has made them "all love," and has given them access to a kind of divine knowledge that was previously unknown to them.

Overall, "The Good-Morrow" is a celebration of the transformative power of love and the spiritual awakening that can come from it. The poem suggests that true love has the ability to connect us to something greater than ourselves, and to reveal new truths about the world and ourselves.

Imagery

Donne makes use of a number of powerful images in "The Good-Morrow" to convey the themes of love and spiritual awakening. One of the most striking images is the idea of the "hemisphere" that is "reversed" by the speaker's love. This image is both powerful and complex, and suggests that their love has turned their world upside down, revealing a new reality that was previously hidden.

Another powerful image is the "seven sleepers' den," which the speaker compares their previous loveless state to in the first stanza. This image is drawn from Christian mythology, and refers to a group of seven sleepers who were said to have been walled up in a cave for hundreds of years, only to awaken to a world that had changed drastically in their absence. This image suggests that the speaker's previous loveless state was like a kind of sleep or dream, and that their awakening to love has been like a rebirth.

The final image that is worth mentioning is the idea of the "suck'd-all, all, this world, and in this kiss." This image is incredibly powerful, and suggests that the speaker's love has the power to suck in and consume the entire world. This image is a metaphor for the all-encompassing nature of their love, and suggests that their love is the most important thing in their world.

Language

One of the most striking things about "The Good-Morrow" is Donne's use of language. The poem is filled with complex metaphors, puns, and wordplay, which all serve to reinforce the themes of love and spiritual awakening.

One of the most interesting examples of wordplay in the poem is the phrase "I wonder by my troth, what thou and I / Did, till we loved?" This phrase is an example of a pun, as the word "troth" can mean both "truth" and "loyalty." This pun serves to reinforce the idea that the speaker and his lover were not truly living or fully loyal to themselves before they found each other.

Another interesting example of wordplay in the poem is the phrase "And we in us find the eagle and the dove." This phrase is a metaphor for the way that their love has united them in a kind of spiritual union. The eagle and the dove are traditional symbols of spiritual awakening, and the fact that they are found "in us" suggests that their love has awakened something spiritual within themselves.

Overall, Donne's use of language in "The Good-Morrow" is both complex and beautiful. His use of wordplay and metaphor serves to reinforce the themes of the poem, and to create a sense of depth and complexity that is not often found in love poetry.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "The Good-Morrow" is a masterpiece of metaphysical poetry that celebrates the transformative power of love and spiritual awakening. The poem is filled with powerful imagery and complex language, which all serve to reinforce the central themes of the poem.

Through his exploration of love and spirituality, Donne creates a sense of transcendent unity that is both profound and relatable. The poem suggests that true love has the ability to connect us to something greater than ourselves, and to reveal new truths about the world and ourselves.

Overall, "The Good-Morrow" is a beautiful and timeless piece of poetry that continues to resonate with readers today. Its celebration of love and spiritual awakening speaks to something deep within the human experience, and reminds us of the transformative power of love.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Good-Morrow: A Masterpiece of John Donne

John Donne, the famous metaphysical poet, is known for his unique style of poetry that blends intellect, emotion, and spirituality. His poem, The Good-Morrow, is a classic example of his style and has been widely appreciated for its depth, complexity, and beauty. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its themes, structure, language, and symbolism.

The Good-Morrow is a love poem that celebrates the awakening of the speaker's soul to a new reality of love and unity. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each consisting of six lines. The rhyme scheme is ABABCC, and the meter is iambic tetrameter, which gives the poem a rhythmic and musical quality.

The poem begins with the speaker addressing his lover, asking her to wake up and listen to him. He says, "I wonder, by my troth, what thou and I did, till we loved?" This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as the speaker reflects on the nature of their love and its transformative power. He goes on to say that their love has made them "two hemispheres" that are now united into one. This metaphorical language suggests that their love has transcended the physical and material world and has entered the realm of the spiritual and metaphysical.

In the second stanza, the speaker continues to explore the nature of their love, using the metaphor of a "book" to describe their relationship. He says, "My face in thine eye, thine in mine appears, / And true plain hearts do in the faces rest." This line suggests that their love is not just a physical attraction but a deep and genuine connection of the soul. The speaker also compares their love to a book that they have written together, saying, "And we in us find the eagle and the dove." This metaphor suggests that their love is a work of art that they have created together, and it contains both the soaring spirit of the eagle and the gentle tenderness of the dove.

In the final stanza, the speaker concludes the poem by expressing his gratitude for their love and its transformative power. He says, "And makes one little room an everywhere." This line suggests that their love has expanded their consciousness and made their world limitless and infinite. The speaker also says, "Let sea-discoverers to new worlds have gone, / Let maps to other, worlds on worlds have shown," which suggests that their love is more profound and significant than any physical exploration or discovery. The poem ends with the speaker declaring his love for his partner, saying, "My face in thine eye, thine in mine appears, / And true plain hearts do in the faces rest; / Where can we find two better hemispheres / Without sharp north, without declining west? / Whatever dies, was not mixed equally; / If our two loves be one, or thou and I / Love so alike that none do slacken, none can die."

The Good-Morrow is a complex and multi-layered poem that explores the nature of love, unity, and spirituality. The poem's structure, language, and symbolism all contribute to its meaning and beauty. The use of metaphors, such as the hemispheres and the book, helps to convey the depth and complexity of their love, while the iambic tetrameter gives the poem a musical and rhythmic quality. The poem's themes of unity and transcendence suggest that love can transform us and expand our consciousness, leading us to a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

In conclusion, The Good-Morrow is a masterpiece of John Donne's poetry, and it continues to inspire and move readers today. Its themes of love, unity, and spirituality are timeless and universal, and its language and structure are a testament to Donne's mastery of poetry. This poem is a must-read for anyone who appreciates the beauty and power of language and the transformative power of love.

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