A Feminist Perspective of Metaphysical Conceit, Action, and Defense of a Woman’s Virtue in John Donne’s Song
In his poem Song, John Donne uses metaphysical conceits, persuades his readers, and defends his negative view a woman’s virtue. A woman’s virtue is proven her moral standards in society. Song was written during the Renaissance era, a time in which men used Petrarchan values to place emphasis on their appreciation of women. John Donne’s poem rejects the Petrarchan ideology, and forces society to dissect a woman’s virtue. In the first stanza of the poem, he gives several metaphysical conceits, in preparation to devalue woman’s virtue. Donne follows the devaluation with pressing action if his conceits were true in the second stanza. …show more content…
In the second stanza John Donne wants each of his readers to act if they find the scenes in the first stanza. He commands his readers to, “Ride ten thousand days and nights, /Till age snow white had on thee (12-13)”, if they see the impossible scenes in stanza one. At the end of stanza two, Donne begins attacking the virtue of women. He states that, “”All strange wonders that befell thee, /And swear/No where/Lives a woman true, and fair. (15-18)”. Donne knows that his audience will not find these “strange wonders”, so he comes to the conclusion that it’s impossible to find woman “true, and fair”. In these line “true and fair” means pure (virginity) and loyal. Donne interprets that it’s impossible to find a woman that is both pure and loyal. The tone in the poem shifts from playfully noticing the impossible to judging all women, in the last lines of the second …show more content…
The stanza begins with,”If thou find’st one, let me know, /Such a pilgrimage were sweet ;( 19-20)”; where Donne continues to question woman virtue. John Donne believes that anyone will have to embark on a long journey before they meet honest or virtuous woman. After the previous lines, Donne states that he would not attempt to go on such a journey. His refusal is an indication of his negative perception of women. He then states, “Though at next door we might meet; /Though she were true, when you met her ;( 22-23)”. Donne mentions a woman’s “trueness” once again to say that she wouldn’t remain true. Once again, John Donne refuses to accept that a woman has virtue; mainly loyalty. In the last lines of this stanza, John Donne makes this poem an antifeminist poem. Donne states, “And last, till you write your letter, /Yet she/Will be/False, ere I come, to two, or three (24-27)”. In the last lines, John Donne states his final view on the virtue of women. Donne believes that every women he meets will have been with someone, or had two or three lovers by the time he sees them. At the end of the poem, Donne’s bitterness toward women is shown; which is also an explanation for the creation of this poem. In the concluding stanza of Song, John Donne bitterness is a relection on his belief that he will never find “true” woman in his
In his poem Song, John Donne uses metaphysical conceits, persuades his readers, and defends his negative view a woman’s virtue. A woman’s virtue is proven her moral standards in society. Song was written during the Renaissance era, a time in which men used Petrarchan values to place emphasis on their appreciation of women. John Donne’s poem rejects the Petrarchan ideology, and forces society to dissect a woman’s virtue. In the first stanza of the poem, he gives several metaphysical conceits, in preparation to devalue woman’s virtue. Donne follows the devaluation with pressing action if his conceits were true in the second stanza. …show more content…
In the second stanza John Donne wants each of his readers to act if they find the scenes in the first stanza. He commands his readers to, “Ride ten thousand days and nights, /Till age snow white had on thee (12-13)”, if they see the impossible scenes in stanza one. At the end of stanza two, Donne begins attacking the virtue of women. He states that, “”All strange wonders that befell thee, /And swear/No where/Lives a woman true, and fair. (15-18)”. Donne knows that his audience will not find these “strange wonders”, so he comes to the conclusion that it’s impossible to find woman “true, and fair”. In these line “true and fair” means pure (virginity) and loyal. Donne interprets that it’s impossible to find a woman that is both pure and loyal. The tone in the poem shifts from playfully noticing the impossible to judging all women, in the last lines of the second …show more content…
The stanza begins with,”If thou find’st one, let me know, /Such a pilgrimage were sweet ;( 19-20)”; where Donne continues to question woman virtue. John Donne believes that anyone will have to embark on a long journey before they meet honest or virtuous woman. After the previous lines, Donne states that he would not attempt to go on such a journey. His refusal is an indication of his negative perception of women. He then states, “Though at next door we might meet; /Though she were true, when you met her ;( 22-23)”. Donne mentions a woman’s “trueness” once again to say that she wouldn’t remain true. Once again, John Donne refuses to accept that a woman has virtue; mainly loyalty. In the last lines of this stanza, John Donne makes this poem an antifeminist poem. Donne states, “And last, till you write your letter, /Yet she/Will be/False, ere I come, to two, or three (24-27)”. In the last lines, John Donne states his final view on the virtue of women. Donne believes that every women he meets will have been with someone, or had two or three lovers by the time he sees them. At the end of the poem, Donne’s bitterness toward women is shown; which is also an explanation for the creation of this poem. In the concluding stanza of Song, John Donne bitterness is a relection on his belief that he will never find “true” woman in his