A Summary of 'The Good-Morrow' by John Donne.

 Introduction

The Good-Morrow is another of John Donne's beautiful poems. John Donne, a renowned English poet and cleric of the 17th century, is celebrated for his profound metaphysical poetry. His works explore themes of love, spirituality, and the complex nature of human existence, captivating readers with his unique blend of wit, intellect, and emotional depth. Donne's literary legacy endures as a testament to his poetic mastery and philosophical insights.

Summary

The Good-Morrow by John Donne is a captivating metaphysical poem that explores the transformative power of love and its ability to awaken the soul to a higher level of existence. The poem consists of three stanzas, each building upon the previous one to convey the speaker's profound realization about the nature of love and its impact on their perception of the world.

In the opening stanza, Donne presents the lovers as being in a state of awakening from a deep slumber, both physically and metaphorically. The speaker addresses their former experiences as mere child's play, suggesting that their love has brought them to a newfound maturity and understanding. The speaker expresses his curiosity about what he and his beloved did before they fell in love. They question whether their previous experiences were merely childlike indulgences or if they were dormant like the Seven Sleepers. However, the speaker dismisses those pleasures as mere fancies, suggesting that they were incomplete without the love they now share. Any beauty or desire they experienced in the past was merely a dream compared to the reality of their love. The use of the word "weaned" implies a separation from the superficial and a shift towards a deeper, more meaningful connection.

In the second stanza, the speaker addresses their awakening to a new reality with their beloved. They greet their "waking souls" with a "good-morrow," emphasizing the newfound sense of awareness and unity. The speaker highlights that their love surpasses any fear or need for surveillance. Love controls their perception, making their shared space limitless and all-encompassing. They assert that while explorers may have discovered new physical worlds and maps may have displayed countless realms, their love allows them to possess one world together, where each individual is united as one. Donne employs intricate metaphors to describe the world before love, comparing it to a map or a globe where each experience and interaction was disjointed and fragmented. The speaker's realisation that true fulfillment lies in the union of souls is encapsulated in the metaphor of the two hemispheres joining together, creating a harmonious whole.

The final stanza culminates in the speaker's profound revelation that their love has not only awakened them from their former state of ignorance but has also transformed their entire existence. The metaphors of the sun and the discovery of new worlds symbolize the enlightenment and expansion of their consciousness. The speaker declares that their love is the ultimate truth, transcending physical desires and offering a profound connection that elevates them beyond the confines of ordinary life. The speaker suggests that their love forms a perfect partnership, symbolized by the metaphorical "hemispheres" that lack any division or discord. They conclude that if their love is true and equal, it is eternal and immune to death or decay.

In these lines, Donne explores the themes of love, unity, and the transformative nature of relationships. The poem conveys the idea that genuine love transcends all other experiences, bringing awakening, unity, and fulfillment to individuals who are fortunate enough to share such a connection.

That's a rough summary of the poem. However, I think it will be better to analyse each of the three stanzas of the poem in order to get more insight of what Donne meant through this poem. So, let's analyse The Good-Morrow, stanza by stanza, while pointing out the literary figures used in each stanza.

Stanza 1:

"I wonder, by my troth, what thou and I

Did, till we loved? Were we not weaned till then?

But sucked on country pleasures, childishly?

Or snorted we in the Seven Sleepers’ den?

’Twas so; but this, all pleasures fancies be.

If ever any beauty I did see,

Which I desired, and got, ’twas but a dream of thee."

In this stanza, the speaker reflects upon their past and wonders what their lives were like before they fell in love. The rhetorical questions and use of "I wonder" convey a sense of curiosity and amazement. The speaker ponders if they were merely engaged in superficial pleasures or trapped in a state of ignorance, comparing it to the Seven Sleepers' den*. The figure of speech used here is an allusion to the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus, a legend in Christian and Islamic traditions. The stanza concludes by stating that any beauty or desire the speaker experienced in the past was nothing but a dream compared to the beloved.

(* The legend of Seven Sleepers, also known as Sleepers of Ephesus is mentioned in Islamic and Christian tradition, where a group of youths who hid inside a cave outside the city of Ephesus to escape a Roman persecution of Christians and emerged some 300 years later.)

Stanza 2:

"And now good-morrow to our waking souls,

Which watch not one another out of fear;

For love, all love of other sights controls,

And makes one little room an everywhere.

Let sea-discoverers to new worlds have gone,

Let maps to other, worlds on worlds have shown,

Let us possess one world, each hath one, and is one."

In this stanza, the speaker addresses their present state of being awakened by love. The phrase "good-morrow" signifies a greeting to their newly awakened souls. The use of the word "waking" symbolizes an elevated level of awareness. The speaker suggests that their love banishes any fear or need for surveillance between them. Love becomes the controlling force that unifies their perception of the world. The figures of speech in this stanza include anaphora (repetition of "Let" to emphasize their exclusive possession of one world) and hyperbole (the idea of possessing one world).

Stanza 3:

"My face in thine eye, thine in mine appears,

And true plain hearts do in the faces rest;

Where can we find two better hemispheres,

Without sharp north, without declining west?

Whatever dies, was not mixed equally;

If our two loves be one, or, thou and I

Love so alike, that none do slacken, none can die."

In the final stanza, the speaker focuses on the profound connection between themselves and their beloved. The reflection of their faces in each other's eyes signifies the deep union of their souls. The phrase "true plain hearts" suggests honesty and sincerity in their love. The metaphor of "two better hemispheres" implies that their love is complete and lacks any division or imbalance. The use of "sharp north" and "declining west" metaphorically represents conflict and discord. The figures of speech in this stanza include metaphor, alliteration (repetition of "th" sounds), and paradox (the notion that their love is so strong that it cannot weaken or perish).

Overall, The Good-Morrow employs various literary figures, including allusion, anaphora, hyperbole, metaphor, alliteration, and paradox, to convey its central themes of love's transformative power, unity, and the eternal nature of true love.

Conclusion

The Good-Morrow is a testament to Donne's skillful use of metaphysical conceits and his ability to explore complex philosophical concepts through vivid imagery. The poem invites readers to reflect on the transformative power of love, highlighting its ability to awaken the soul, provide profound fulfillment, and reshape one's perception of the world. Donne's mastery of language and his exploration of metaphysical themes make The Good-Morrow a timeless and thought-provoking piece of poetry.

And that's all about The Good-Morrow by John Donne. I hope you like this poem of Donne. Do comment if you liked the analysis. Thank you.