An Analysis of 'The Extasie' by John Donne.

 Introduction

The Extasie is a yet another poem written by the Metaphysical poet John Donne. Published in 1633 as part of his collection of poems titled "Songs and Sonnets," the poem explores themes of love, spirituality, and the union of souls. It is considered one of Donne's most profound and complex works, showcasing his unique blending of intellectual and emotional elements.

The title, if you pay more attention, can seem quite different from the usual spelling "ecstasy". Thematically, one may (especially,  us, the modern beings) construe the poem for describing the trance-like state that the lovers may have entered. Donne used the title from the Greek word "ekstasis", which means 'going forth'. Having said, our assumption regarding the poem being an ecstatic vision of the lovers is still valid, by the way. Quite the pun, right?

The Extasie is a complex and thought-provoking poem that delves into the depths of human love and spirituality. Through its intricate language, vivid imagery, and intellectual exploration, Donne invites readers to contemplate the nature of love, the limits of human experience, and the potential for transcendent connections with others. The poem begins with a description of two lovers lying side by side in a field, where they are engaged in deep conversation. Donne sets the scene by describing the serene natural surroundings, which serves as a backdrop for the intense emotional and spiritual experience that unfolds. As the conversation progresses, the lovers' souls become intertwined, transcending the physical realm and entering a state of ecstasy. Their souls become fused, forming a single entity that surpasses the limitations of the physical world. Donne uses vivid imagery and rich metaphors to depict this union, describing their souls as "subtle" and "incorporate," suggesting a merging of their essences.

Donne delves into the notion of timelessness and eternity, asserting that in this state of ecstatic union, the lovers experience a transcendence of time. He rejects the conventional concept of time, arguing that it is a constraint that limits human experiences. Instead, he suggests that the lovers exist in a timeless realm where they are free from the constraints of past, present, and future.

The poem also explores the concept of spiritual love, emphasizing its superiority over physical love. Donne argues that physical love, with its focus on sensual pleasure, is fleeting and transient. In contrast, spiritual love, which encompasses the union of souls, is eternal and everlasting. He describes this spiritual love as a divine force that originates from God and flows through the souls of the lovers.

In the concluding lines of the poem, Donne reflects on the implications of this ecstatic union. He contemplates the idea that their union could be seen as a threat to society or a cause for concern, as it challenges conventional notions of love and relationships. However, he asserts that their love is a reflection of a higher reality, one that transcends societal expectations and norms.

For more clarity, let's look at the lines of the poem and summarise a little bit deep, though not too deep.

The Text:

Where, like a pillow on a bed

A pregnant bank swell'd up to rest

The violet's reclining head,

Sat we two, one another's best.

Our hands were firmly cemented

With a fast balm, which thence did spring;

Our eye-beams twisted, and did thread

Our eyes upon one double string;

So to'intergraft our hands, as yet

Was all the means to make us one,

And pictures in our eyes to get

Was all our propagation.

As 'twixt two equal armies fate

Suspends uncertain victory,

Our souls (which to advance their state

Were gone out) hung 'twixt her and me.

And whilst our souls negotiate there,

We like sepulchral statues lay;

All day, the same our postures were,

And we said nothing, all the day.

If any, so by love refin'd

That he soul's language understood,

And by good love were grown all mind,

Within convenient distance stood,

He (though he knew not which soul spake,

Because both meant, both spake the same)

Might thence a new concoction take

And part far purer than he came.

This ecstasy doth unperplex,

We said, and tell us what we love;

We see by this it was not sex,

We see we saw not what did move;

But as all several souls contain

Mixture of things, they know not what,

Love these mix'd souls doth mix again

And makes both one, each this and that.

A single violet transplant,

The strength, the colour, and the size,

(All which before was poor and scant)

Redoubles still, and multiplies.

When love with one another so

Interinanimates two souls,

That abler soul, which thence doth flow,

Defects of loneliness controls.

We then, who are this new soul, know

Of what we are compos'd and made,

For th' atomies of which we grow

Are souls, whom no change can invade.

But oh alas, so long, so far,

Our bodies why do we forbear?

They'are ours, though they'are not we; we are

The intelligences, they the spheres.

We owe them thanks, because they thus

Did us, to us, at first convey,

Yielded their senses' force to us,

Nor are dross to us, but allay.

On man heaven's influence works not so,

But that it first imprints the air;

So soul into the soul may flow,

Though it to body first repair.

As our blood labors to beget

Spirits, as like souls as it can,

Because such fingers need to knit

That subtle knot which makes us man.

So must pure lovers' souls descend

T' affections, and to faculties,

Which sense may reach and apprehend,

Else a great prince in prison lies.

To'our bodies turn we then, that so

Weak men on love reveal'd may look;

Love's mysteries in souls do grow,

But yet the body is his book.

And if some lover, such as we,

Have heard this dialogue of one,

Let him still mark us, he shall see

Small change, when we'are to bodies gone.

In these lines from The Extasie by John Donne, the speaker describes the intense connection and union between two lovers. They lie together in a natural setting, symbolized by a "pregnant bank" and a violet's head resting on a pillow. Their hands are intertwined, and their gazes are locked, representing the merging of their souls. The souls of the lovers are depicted as being suspended between them, like two armies in uncertain victory. While their souls are engaged in a spiritual negotiation, they remain motionless like statues, spending the entire day in silence. The poem suggests that those who truly understand the language of the soul and are refined by love can witness this union from a distance and experience a purer transformation.

The ecstasy experienced by the lovers transcends physical desire and shows that their connection is not solely based on sex. Instead, their souls mix and intertwine, becoming one entity while still maintaining their individuality. This merging is compared to a single violet transplant that grows stronger and multiplies in its new environment.

The fusion of souls in love helps overcome the deficiencies of loneliness, allowing a deeper understanding of one's composition and makeup. The speaker laments the separation between their physical bodies, acknowledging that the bodies belong to them but are separate entities from their intelligences or souls. The speaker expresses gratitude to their bodies for being the vessels that allowed their souls to unite and experience the senses. The influence of heaven imprints the soul before it inhabits the body, highlighting the primacy of the soul over the physical form. Just as blood labors to bring about spirits of life, lovers' souls must descend into affections and faculties that can be sensed and understood, or else they remain imprisoned.

The conclusion urges a return to the physical bodies so that others may witness the power of love. While love's mysteries grow within the souls, the body serves as a vessel to reveal those mysteries. The speaker invites other lovers who have heard this dialogue to observe that there is little change when they return to their bodies, emphasizing the enduring nature of their union.

In summary, these lines depict the profound union of souls between two lovers, their separation from the physical world, and the longing to unite their bodies once again. It explores the spiritual and transformative power of love, highlighting the significance of the soul in the human experience.

Literary Devices

Now let's look at few of the literary devices employed by Donne in the poem The Extasie. Here is an analysis of the lines and the literary devices used:

1. Metaphor: The image of the "pregnant bank" that "swell'd up to rest" is a metaphorical description of the landscape where the lovers are situated. It creates a vivid picture of a fertile and abundant natural setting.

2. Alliteration: The repetition of the "b" sound in "bank," "swell'd," and "rest" creates an alliterative effect, emphasizing the soft and gentle nature of the scene.

3. Enjambment: The lines flow seamlessly into one another without punctuation at the end of each line, creating enjambment. This technique enhances the continuity and fluidity of the lovers' experience and the poem's overall rhythm.

4. Imagery: The poem employs rich imagery, such as the description of the intertwined hands as being "firmly cemented" with a "fast balm." This image evokes a sense of unity and intimacy between the lovers.

5. Personification: Donne personifies the lovers' "eye-beams" by stating that they "twisted, and did thread / Our eyes upon one double string." This personification adds a sense of interconnectedness and intensity to their gaze.

6. Paradox: The paradoxical nature of the lovers' experience is highlighted when Donne describes their souls as being suspended between them, like two armies in uncertain victory. This paradox emphasizes the transcendence of their union beyond conventional boundaries.

7. Repetition: The repetition of the phrase "all (the) day" emphasizes the stillness and silence of the lovers, underscoring the profound nature of their connection.

8. Conceit: The entire poem can be seen as an extended conceit, a metaphorical comparison between the lovers' union and various elements of nature, spirituality, and love. This conceit allows for intricate and complex exploration of their relationship.

9. Symbolism: The violet mentioned in the poem represents the lovers' souls. It symbolizes their transformation and growth, as the "single violet transplant" gains strength, color, and size, symbolizing the deepening of their love.

10. Parallelism: The repeated use of the phrase "We said" creates a parallel structure, emphasizing the shift from the discussion of the lovers' spiritual union to their return to their physical bodies.

11. Rhetorical question: The question "Our bodies why do we forbear?" is a rhetorical question that highlights the longing and desire for physical intimacy between the lovers.

12. Allusion: The line "And if some lover, such as we" alludes to other lovers who may have had a similar experience, inviting the reader to consider the universality of their union.

These are few of the devices used by Donne in this poem. Overall, these literary devices contribute to the depth, complexity, and poetic beauty of Donne's The Extasie, enhancing the exploration of themes of love, spirituality, and the blending of souls.

So that's The Extasie by John Donne in a nutshell. Hope you like this analysis. Leave a comment if you find this blog useful. Thank you.