'Holy Sonnet IV: Oh My Black Soul! Now Art Thou Summoned' by John Donne
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Oh my black soul! now art thou summoned
By sickness, death's herald, and champion;
Thou art like a pilgrim, which abroad hath done
Treason, and durst not turn to whence he is fled;
Or like a thief, which till death's doom be read,
Wisheth himself delivered from prison,
But damned and haled to execution,
Wisheth that still he might be imprisoned.
Yet grace, if thou repent, thou canst not lack;
But who shall give thee that grace to begin?
Oh make thy self with holy mourning black,
And red with blushing, as thou art with sin;
Or wash thee in Christ's blood, which hath this might
That being red, it dyes red souls to white.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Oh My Black Soul! Now Art Thou Summoned: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Introduction
John Donne is one of the most celebrated poets of the seventeenth century. His works are known for their profound philosophical insights and their exploration of the human experience. Among his most famous works are the Holy Sonnets, a series of 19 poems that are regarded as one of the greatest devotional works in English literature. In this essay, we will analyze and interpret one of the sonnets, Holy Sonnet IV: Oh My Black Soul! Now Art Thou Summoned, in detail.
The Poem
Oh my black soul! Now art thou summoned By sickness, death's herald, and champion; Thou art like a pilgrim, which abroad hath done Treason, and durst not turn to whence he is fled, Or like a thief, which till death's doom be read, Wisheth himself delivered from prison, But damned and haled to execution, Wisheth that still he might be imprisoned.
Yet grace, if thou repent, thou canst not lack; But who shall give thee that grace to begin? Oh, make thyself with holy mourning black, And red with blushing as thou art with sin; Or wash thee in Christ's blood, which hath this might That being red, it dyes red souls to white.
Analysis
The Holy Sonnet IV: Oh My Black Soul! Now Art Thou Summoned is a poem that explores the theme of repentance and salvation. The poet addresses his own soul, which he describes as black, and summoning it to repentance. The poem is structured in two quatrains and a sestet, with a volta or turn at the ninth line, where the tone of the poem changes.
In the first quatrain, the poet uses two similes to describe his soul. He compares it to a pilgrim who has committed treason and is afraid to return home, or a thief who wishes to be released from prison but is afraid of being executed. The use of the two similes creates an atmosphere of desperation and hopelessness, where the soul is trapped in its own sin and cannot find a way out.
In the second quatrain, the poet introduces the concept of grace, which can save the soul from damnation. He acknowledges that if the soul repents, it can receive grace and be saved. However, he asks a rhetorical question: who shall give thee that grace to begin? The question implies the difficulty of getting grace, as it is not something that can be earned or bought.
The sestet presents two ways in which the soul can find grace. The first one is to make oneself with holy mourning black, and red with blushing as thou art with sin. This line suggests that the soul must feel remorse for its sins, and that feeling of remorse is essential for repentance. The second way presented in the poem is to wash oneself in Christ's blood, which hath this might/ That being red, it dyes red souls to white. This line refers to the Christian concept of salvation through the blood of Christ, which can cleanse the soul of its sins and make it pure.
Overall, the poem is a reflection on the human condition, where sin and grace are at odds with each other. The use of the two similes in the first quatrain emphasizes the feeling of entrapment and desperation, while the second quatrain introduces the concept of grace as a way out. The last sestet presents two ways in which the soul can find salvation, through repentance and through the blood of Christ.
Interpretation
The Holy Sonnet IV: Oh My Black Soul! Now Art Thou Summoned is a poem that reflects the Christian belief in sin and salvation. The poet addresses his own soul, which he describes as black, and summons it to repentance. The poem is a reflection on the human condition, where sin and grace are at odds with each other. The use of the two similes in the first quatrain emphasizes the feeling of entrapment and desperation, while the second quatrain introduces the concept of grace as a way out.
The poem can be interpreted as a call to repentance and a reminder of the consequences of sin. The poet uses powerful and vivid imagery to convey the sense of desperation and hopelessness that comes with sin. By comparing the soul to a pilgrim who has committed treason or a thief who is afraid of being executed, the poet emphasizes the weight of sin and the difficulty of escaping from it.
The second quatrain introduces the concept of grace, which represents the Christian belief in salvation. The poet acknowledges that if the soul repents, it can receive grace and be saved. However, he also highlights the difficulty of getting grace, as it is not something that can be earned or bought. The poem presents repentance as the first step towards salvation, a necessary condition for grace to take effect.
The last sestet presents two ways in which the soul can find salvation, through repentance and through the blood of Christ. The first way is to make oneself with holy mourning black, and red with blushing as thou art with sin. This line suggests that the soul must feel remorse for its sins, and that feeling of remorse is essential for repentance. The second way presented in the poem is to wash oneself in Christ's blood, which can cleanse the soul of its sins and make it pure.
In conclusion, the Holy Sonnet IV: Oh My Black Soul! Now Art Thou Summoned is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that reflects the Christian belief in sin and salvation. The poet uses powerful and vivid imagery to convey the sense of desperation and hopelessness that comes with sin, and presents repentance as the first step towards salvation. The poem can be interpreted as a call to repentance and a reminder of the consequences of sin, as well as a message of hope and salvation through grace.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Oh My Black Soul! Now Art Thou Summoned: A Deep Dive into John Donne's Holy Sonnet IV
John Donne, one of the most celebrated poets of the English Renaissance, is known for his metaphysical poetry that explores complex themes of love, death, and spirituality. His Holy Sonnet IV, also known as "Oh My Black Soul! Now Art Thou Summoned," is a powerful meditation on the human condition and the struggle between sin and redemption. In this article, we will take a deep dive into this classic poem and explore its themes, structure, and language.
The poem begins with a striking opening line: "Oh my black soul! Now art thou summoned." The use of the exclamation mark immediately grabs the reader's attention and sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker is addressing his own soul, which he describes as "black." This suggests that he sees himself as sinful and in need of redemption. The word "summoned" implies that he is being called to account for his sins, perhaps by God or a higher power.
The second line continues the theme of sin and redemption: "By sickness, death's herald, and champion." Here, the speaker suggests that sickness and death are the messengers of God, calling him to account for his sins. The word "champion" is interesting because it suggests that death is not something to be feared, but rather a necessary step towards redemption. The speaker seems to be accepting his mortality and recognizing that death is a natural part of the cycle of life.
The third line introduces a new theme: the idea of the soul as a prisoner. The speaker says, "Thou art like a pilgrim, which abroad hath done / Treason, and durst not turn to whence he is fled." Here, the soul is compared to a pilgrim who has committed treason and is afraid to return home. This suggests that the speaker sees himself as a prisoner of his own sins, unable to escape the consequences of his actions.
The fourth line continues this theme: "Or like a thief, which till death's doom be read, / Wisheth himself delivered from prison." The speaker compares himself to a thief who wishes to be released from prison before his sentence is up. This suggests that he is aware of the consequences of his actions and is seeking redemption before it is too late.
The fifth line introduces a new theme: the idea of the soul as a debtor. The speaker says, "But, damn'd and haled to execution, / Wisheth that still he might be imprisoned." Here, the soul is compared to a debtor who is about to be executed. The debtor wishes that he could remain in prison rather than face the consequences of his debts. This suggests that the speaker sees himself as a debtor to God, owing a debt that he cannot repay.
The sixth line introduces a new theme: the idea of the soul as a lover. The speaker says, "Yet grace, if thou repent, thou canst not lack; / But who shall give thee that grace to begin?" Here, the speaker suggests that grace is available to those who repent, but questions who will give him the grace to begin. This suggests that the speaker sees himself as a lover of God, seeking grace and redemption.
The seventh line continues this theme: "Oh make thyself with holy mourning black, / And red with blushing, as thou art with sin." Here, the speaker suggests that the soul should make itself "black" with mourning and "red" with blushing, as it is with sin. This suggests that the speaker sees repentance as a necessary step towards redemption.
The eighth line introduces a new theme: the idea of the soul as a bride. The speaker says, "Or wash thee in Christ's blood, which hath this might / That being red, it dyes red souls to white." Here, the speaker suggests that the soul should wash itself in Christ's blood, which has the power to turn "red souls" white. This suggests that the speaker sees Christ as a bridegroom, offering redemption to his bride, the soul.
The ninth line continues this theme: "If soul with soul canst speak, O then thy soul / Which dwells within thee, like thy captive be / That it may raise thy captive soul to thee." Here, the speaker suggests that the soul can speak to itself, and that the soul within the speaker should act as a captive, raising the captive soul to God. This suggests that the speaker sees the soul as a mediator between the self and God.
The tenth and final line concludes the poem: "Let thy soul lend a hand to the body, / And both be one in the labor, and the prayer." Here, the speaker suggests that the soul and body should work together in labor and prayer, becoming one. This suggests that the speaker sees the body as a vessel for the soul, and that the two should work together towards redemption.
In terms of structure, the poem is a sonnet, with fourteen lines and a rhyme scheme of ABBA ABBA CDCD EE. The use of the sonnet form is interesting because it is traditionally associated with love poetry, but here it is used to explore themes of sin and redemption. The use of the rhyme scheme is also interesting because it creates a sense of symmetry and balance, reflecting the idea of the soul and body working together towards redemption.
In terms of language, the poem is full of powerful imagery and metaphors. The use of the word "black" to describe the soul is particularly striking, as it suggests a deep sense of sin and guilt. The use of the word "champion" to describe death is also interesting, as it suggests a sense of acceptance and even triumph over death. The use of the metaphor of the soul as a prisoner, debtor, lover, and bride is also powerful, as it suggests a complex relationship between the self and God.
In conclusion, John Donne's Holy Sonnet IV is a powerful meditation on the human condition and the struggle between sin and redemption. Through its use of striking imagery, powerful metaphors, and the sonnet form, the poem explores complex themes of love, death, and spirituality. It is a testament to Donne's skill as a poet and his ability to explore deep and complex themes in a way that is both accessible and profound.
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