John Donne The Flea

Q1)

The Flea by John Donne utilises wit and conceit to convey his intentions to seduce a woman. Although a love poem, the author does not utilise typical flattery of the opposite sex to convey his intentions. Instead, the author uses wit through a hyperbolic argument in a display of intelligence to convince the silent woman. Donne states, “Marke this flea” to the woman he is trying to seduce. This is Donne’s first conceit for “how little that which thou deny’st me”, a metaphor for virginity. Donne argues that the flea is “our marriage bed” and that in the flea “our two bloods mingled be” underlining the hyperbole of Donne’s wit. This conceit is further underlined when Donne argues “Thou know’st that this cannot be said” suggesting the two bloods

Donne suggests the flea “enjoys before it woo” disputing the female’s denial of him. The author reaffirms this suggesting that this exchange in blood “alas! Is more than we do”. Donne proceeds to compare the flea, a symbol of their relationship to “our marriage bed”. Donne extends the hyperbolic argument stating “three lives in one flea spare” comparing the killing of the flea to sacrilege in order to prevent the silent woman crushing the flea. This is further underlined when as well as murder and sacrilege, Donne states “let not that self-murder added be”, suicide. Given the absurdity of the argument, the silent woman crushes the flea, however without knowing she has confirmed Donne’s point. Donne’s argument that killing the flea would be sacrilege and suicide reaffirms his original statement that intercourse would not be be “sin, nor shame, nor loss of maidenhead” as when killed. Donne states “when thou yield’st to me, Will waste as this flea ‘s death took from me” thus he reaffirms his previous

Qualities of destruction and rebirth are evident in the first quatrain, as the speaker asks that God “Batter my heart”. We hear the suddenness of violence which is followed by strong verbs “knock, breathe, shine” ringing like blows of a hammer as Donne an impure metal yearns to be reshaped by God. Although Donne longs to be rescued from his sinfulness, he knows himself that minor inducements cannot cause spiritual reformation. Instead Donne’s use of strong language indicates his desperation for God’s force to “break, blow, burn and make me new again”, a conceit for what will destroy and cause his rebirth. The repeated use of three consecutive verbs allows the reader to hear the nature of the Holy Trinity. The initial sense of violence from the first quatrain is undercut by the speaker’s apologetic tone as he is unable to resist sin. The speaker refers to himself as “an usurped town to another due” as suggestion of his soul has been captured and that although the speaker may “may labour admit you” it is to “no end”. The image of the besieged further flows through the sonnet as it further demonstrates the state of the author. The desperation of Donne can be heard by the as the author begs that God “Reason, your viceroy in me, me should defend”. The viceroy is reference to the speaker’s rationality and intelligence that should save him, although does not, due to its feeble nature to give into