feb 20th meeting - part iii

john donne (1572-1631)

holy sonnet xiv:
batter my heart, three-person'd God

01 batter my heart, three-person'd God, for you
02 as yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend;
03 that i may rise and stand, o'erthrow me, and bend
04 your force to break, blow, burn, and make me new.
05 i, like an usurp'd town to another due,
06 labor to admit you, but oh, to no end;
07 reason, your viceroy in me, me should defend,
08 but is captiv'd, and proves weak or untrue.
09 yet dearly i love you, and would be lov'd fain,
10 but am betroth'd unto your enemy;
11 divorce me, untie or break that know again,
12 take me to you, imprison me, for i,
13 except you enthrall me, never shall be free,
14 nor ever chaste, expect you ravish me.


there is a debate in iulia's english class over whether this a sacriligious, perverted poem, or a well-written, heart-felt and raw plea to God. (she votes the latter, btw). john donne wrote many "morning after" type of sonnets - he eventually became a minister, but his poetry was still very raw (with some very violent and sensual imagery).

- rather than cliched "everything is wonderful and perfect" and christian-ly religious words, this sonnet is an open and honest cry to God
- things are not so happy or perfect --> it contains very human emotions

- he needs to be broken from his sins --> even his reason (God's viceroy, or representative, in him) is weak and has been held captive, instead of defending him. it's when you end up sticking to your own interpretations and rationalizations instead of listening to God and reason.
- when lucy and co. should have been following aslan in prince caspian, despite a very long and torturous decision-making process where they knew (deep down) that lucy was right, the majority of the group decided against reason and did not follow aslan's path

an ancient greek belief: reason is what elevates man from beast. reason connects us to the Divine.
- if we are slaves to our passions or follow our senses, we drive ourselves further away from God. these whims are also very fleeting as well.
- unfortunately, our society today is very emotions-driven --> do we believe b/c we believe christianity/God is the truth? or b/c we have a feeling about it? we need to be seeking God.