Biographical Criticism of John Donne Essay Example

Introduction

John Donne was born in 1572 in London, England ("Donne, John (1573-1631)" 04). He was raised in a Roman Catholic family and at a time when Catholic was illegal in England. His father was a prominent merchant and his mother, Elizabeth Heywood, was the grand-niece of a Catholic martyr. The early religious background would play a central role in his life, as demonstrated in his work. In 1601, Donne secretly married Ann More, a niece to Sir Egerton (Stubbs 245). The marriage was strongly disapproved by both the uncle and Anne's father, and this had him imprisoned. In 1610, Donne renounced his Catholic faith and published an anti-Catholic polemic "Pseudo-Martyr." The king later ordained him as Royal Chaplain, and this would establish him as a great preacher. After his wife's death in 1617, he stopped writing love poems and was more devoted to religion until his time of death in 1631 ("Donne, John (1573-1631)" 15). Donne is remembered as one of the most influential and prominent literary figures of his generation. However, looking at most of his work, it is clear that his life experiences in love and religion largely influenced his work major as seen in the witty, sensual love poetry composed in his early life, and the serious religious writing of his later career.

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John Donne's Early Life and Influences

In Donne's early life, it is believed that he spent much of his inheritance on women, literature, and travels. His love for women and the romantic relationship with his wife influenced his early works, which were brimming with life and filled with primeval emotion (Keynes 57). As a result, John Donne's work is considered as the origin of the metaphysical school of poetry, as described by later writers such as Herbert and Cowley. Metaphysical poets are famous due to their abilities to surprise the readers and encompass new perspectives through subtle argument, paradoxical images, and imagery from art, philosophy, and religion. This is made possible by the use of extended metaphor known as a conceit. For example, in his poem "A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning," he talks of two lovers whom he compares to the opposite pointing of a compass needle using an extended metaphor ("Donne, John (1573-1631)" 18.

The Metaphysical School of Poetry and Donne's Role

Nonetheless, it is vital to note that Donne's poems are not solely based on lust or human desires, but they're about the importance of intellectual love. He sometimes shows desires in his work, but not a predominant theme of his poems, for example, in the poem "air and angels" he slightly explores his human desires, but the work primarily introduces an argument on two types of love: the metaphysical and the rhetorical (Keynes 45). In this poem, Donne is emphasizing on the value of "pressuring some detachment at the heart of emotional involvement." Also, "witchcraft by a picture," shows obscure between the two characters in the poem and a departure from the Petrarchan system of poetry ("Donne, John (1573-1631)" 09). On the other hand, most of his songs and sonnets aim to show the metaphysical relationship between the soul and the body.

Religion and Inner Conflict in Donne's Work

Religion also plays a significant role in Donne's work, where he publishes religious materials like "Pseudo-Martyr," and earns the favor of King James when he agrees to renounce his Catholic faith (Stubbs 260). After the death of his wife, he shifts his focused from romantic poems and songs to more religious inclined works, which some people say reflected the tremendous inner conflict that Donne had regarding religion (Keynes 72). Having been born in a Catholic family, Donne expressed his doubts by indicating that religion should be chosen after great thoughts and considerations., and after he shifted to Anglicanism Donne felt satisfied with his new faith, but left him with a great deal of soul searching and conflict between the old and the new belief. These conflicts can be seen in his work, where Donne questions the general assumptions and opinions of the Catholic Church. For example in his work "A hymn to God the Father," he seeks forgiveness, and towards the end, he is confident that God has forgiven him, and he no longer fears of being without faith ("Donne, John (1573-1631)" 27). Other themes evident in Donne's religious poetry and inspired by his life includes the fleetingness of the world, the limited nature of physical happiness, and the eternal suffering of the sinful soul. Despite this, Donne is unable to keep away from the physical pleasures and joys of this world, and perhaps, for this reason, he continues to write apology poems to God (Stubbs 258). However, no one can refute his love for God and the desire to obey his commandments as expressed in almost all his religious works.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Donne is celebrated as a metaphysical poet who in the course of his life wrote complex, emotionally charged pieces of literature that celebrated the joys, sorrows, and dilemmas of his life. His immense contribution to the English literature was recognized in the twentieth century when major critics acknowledged that Donne had an exceptional ability to capture the human experiences in poetry. However, some modern critics such as Stanley Fish have publicly declared their dislike for Donne's work, where they have indicated that in most of his work, he seems to serve his personal needs without caring for consistency: his early work is characteristic of a witty courtier seeking patronage, while his later works is full of theology and personal salvation. However, despite these critics, I firmly believe that Donne's poetry is a fusion of intellectualism and passion and will keep influencing and entertaining people in many generations to come.

Works Cited

"Donne, John (1573-1631)." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, 2018.

Keynes, Geoffrey. A Bibliography of Dr. John Donne. Cambridge UP, 2013.

Stubbs, John. John Donne: The Reformed Soul: A Biography. W. W. Norton & Company, 2008.