An Analysis of 'The Canonization' by John Donne.

 Introduction

The Canonization is a metaphysical poem written by the renowned English poet, John Donne. Published in 1633 as part of his collection of poems titled "Songs and Sonnets," the poem explores themes of love, religious devotion, and the transformative power of love in the face of societal judgment. It was after his marriage with Anne More that he composed the poem. Before we dig into the summary, I think it is better to read the text first.

The Text

For God's sake hold your tongue, and let me love,

Or chide my palsy, or my gout,

My five gray hairs, or ruined fortune flout,

With wealth your state, your mind with arts improve,

Take you a course, get you a place,

Observe his honor, or his grace,

Or the king's real, or his stampèd face

Contemplate; what you will, approve,

So you will let me love.

Alas, alas, who's injured by my love?

What merchant's ships have my sighs drowned?

Who says my tears have overflowed his ground?

When did my colds a forward spring remove?

When did the heats which my veins fill

Add one more to the plaguy bill?

Soldiers find wars, and lawyers find out still

Litigious men, which quarrels move,

Though she and I do love.

Call us what you will, we are made such by love;

Call her one, me another fly,

We're tapers too, and at our own cost die,

And we in us find the eagle and the dove.

The phœnix riddle hath more wit

By us; we two being one, are it.

So, to one neutral thing both sexes fit.

We die and rise the same, and prove

Mysterious by this love.

We can die by it, if not live by love,

And if unfit for tombs and hearse

Our legend be, it will be fit for verse;

And if no piece of chronicle we prove,

We'll build in sonnets pretty rooms;

As well a well-wrought urn becomes

The greatest ashes, as half-acre tombs,

And by these hymns, all shall approve

Us canonized for Love.

And thus invoke us: "You, whom reverend love

Made one another's hermitage;

You, to whom love was peace, that now is rage;

Who did the whole world's soul contract, and drove

Into the glasses of your eyes

(So made such mirrors, and such spies,

That they did all to you epitomize)

Countries, towns, courts: beg from above

 A pattern of your love!"

Summary

In the poem The Canonization by John Donne, the speaker passionately pleads with someone, urging them to refrain from criticizing or interfering with his love. He implores them to let him love freely and express his affection without hindrance. The speaker dismisses any objections or mockery regarding his physical ailments such as palsy, gout, or his aging appearance with five gray hairs. He even suggests that the listener should focus on improving themselves, either through acquiring wealth or enhancing their intellect with the arts. The speaker implores the listener to pursue their own interests and approve of whatever they desire, as long as they allow him to love freely.

The speaker then questions who is truly harmed by his love. He challenges anyone to identify the merchant ships that have been sunk by his sighs or the land that has been flooded by his tears. He scoffs at the notion that his emotional state, such as his colds or passions, should be of concern to others when his love is genuine and not causing any harm. Soldiers find wars, and lawyers find disputes, but the speaker asserts that he and his beloved are simply in love, not engaging in any harm or conflict.

The speaker asserts that their love defines their very existence. They are so intimately connected that they become like two flies, each distinct but unified in their love. They are also like tapers, burning and sacrificing themselves for their love. In their union, they embody the qualities of both the 'majestic eagle' and the 'peaceful dove'. Their love is compared to the enigmatic riddle of the 'phoenix,' suggesting that their unity holds a deeper significance. The images of 'eagle', 'dove' and 'phoenix' symbolise certain ideas. The eagle, as in the ,medieval fable, flies up to the sun and plunges into a well to renew its youthful energy. Same way, their love hopes to renew its youthful energy. The image of dove, which is quite a religious symbol, sheds light on the loftiness of love the poet and his wife have for each other. The image of phoenix suggests the idea that love discovering a sense of fulfilment by undergoing pain. They transcend traditional gender roles, fitting into a neutral space where both sexes find harmony.

The speaker emphasizes the profound impact of their love by stating that they are willing to die for it if they cannot live fulfilled lives together. Even if their story is not immortalized in traditional tombs or memorials, it will find its place in verse and poetry. Their love, like a beautifully crafted urn, holds great significance and beauty. The speaker declares that through these hymns, their love will be celebrated and recognized as worthy of veneration.

In the final stanza, the speaker invokes others to recognize and honor their love. He addresses them as hermits of one another, emphasizing the sacred and exclusive nature of their relationship. Love, once a source of peace, has now transformed into a powerful force. Their love has the ability to encapsulate the world within their eyes, acting as mirrors and spies that epitomize all aspects of existence. The speaker calls upon others to seek a pattern of their love, invoking divine intervention to guide and inspire others to emulate their profound connection.

In conclusion, The Canonization is a passionate plea for the freedom to love without criticism or interference. The speaker defends the power and significance of their love, asserting that it is not harmful or destructive. Instead, it is a transformative and transcendent force that defines their very existence. The speaker invites others to recognize and honor their love, emphasizing its universal and timeless nature. Through their love, they challenge societal norms and expectations, inspiring others to seek and celebrate true love.

Stanzaic Summary

Now, for the sake of understanding, let's divide the same themes said above into the stanzas of the poem. Though this is just repeating of the already discussed ideas, it will give you a better insight of the individual stanzas of the poem. 

Stanza 1: The speaker implores the listener not to criticize or mock him due to his imperfections (palsy, gout, gray hairs, and ruined fortune) but to let him love freely. Instead of focusing on worldly pursuits like wealth or honor, the listener should let the speaker love as he wishes.

Stanza 2: The speaker questions who is harmed by his love. He dismisses the idea that his love causes any tangible harm, such as sinking ships or flooding lands. He wonders why his emotional state (colds or passion) should matter to others when his love is genuine and not causing any damage.

Stanza 3: The speaker and his beloved are deeply in love, and their union is so profound that they become like one entity. They share the qualities of both an eagle and a dove, representing strength and peace. The speaker refers to their love as a "phœnix riddle" – a mysterious and enigmatic phenomenon – and suggests that their unity is a puzzle that holds deeper significance.

Stanza 4: The speaker asserts that they (speaker and his lover) are willing to die for their love if they cannot live by it. Even if their love story does not become part of history or chronicles, it will be celebrated in poetic verses. The speaker compares their love to well-wrought urns, which can hold the ashes of great individuals, emphasizing the eternal significance of their love.

Stanza 5: The speaker concludes that their love is worthy of veneration and invokes others to admire and praise them for it. He addresses the lovers as hermits of each other, emphasizing the solitude and exclusiveness of their love. Their love was once a source of peace but has now transformed into a powerful force (rage). They are seen as representatives of all humanity, as they encapsulate the world within their eyes, making them mirrors of existence.

Figures of Speech

Now that we are acquainted with the theme of the poem, let's look at few of the literary devices as well as certain attributes employed by Donne in this poem.

1. Hyperbole: The line "Call her one, me another fly" employs hyperbole, an exaggeration, to emphasize the idea that both the speaker and his beloved are insignificant in the eyes of others.

2. Metaphor: There are quite a few metaphors in the poem. For our convenience, let me point out a few: (i) The line "We're tapers too, and at our own cost die" uses a metaphor to compare the speaker and his beloved to tapers (candles) that burn and eventually die out, symbolizing their self-sacrificing love.

(ii) The speaker compares their love to well-crafted urns and tombs, emphasizing the beauty and significance of their relationship.

(iii) The speaker's physical ailments, palsy and gout, are metaphorically presented as objects of reprimand, highlighting the speaker's willingness to endure any criticism or hardship for the sake of love.

(iv) "Ruined fortune" - the speaker's ruined fortune serves as a metaphor for the loss or misfortune they have experienced, suggesting that love is not dependent on material wealth or external circumstances.

(v) "The eagle and the dove"- this metaphorical pairing represents the contrasting yet harmonious elements within their love, with the eagle representing strength and the dove representing peace or gentleness.

These are few of the many metaphors used in the poem.

3. Personification: The line "When did my colds a forward spring remove?" personifies "colds" by suggesting they have the power to hinder the progress of spring, attributing human qualities to a non-human element.

4. Pun: The line "And if unfit for tombs and hearse / Our legend be, it will be fit for verse" contains a pun, as "fit" is used in two different senses: suitable for a tomb or suitable for poetic composition.

5. Epithet: The phrase "plaguy bill" uses the epithet "plaguy" to describe the bill, implying that it is troublesome or annoying.

6. Allusion: The line "The phoenix riddle hath more wit" alludes to the mythical phoenix, a bird that symbolizes resurrection. This allusion suggests that the love between the speaker and his beloved is enigmatic and full of wisdom.

7. Simile: The line "We die and rise the same" contains a simile, comparing the speaker and his beloved's cycle of death and rebirth to each other.

8. Repetition: The repeated phrase "And if" at the beginning of two different lines in the fourth stanza creates a rhetorical effect and emphasizes the conditional statement being made.

9. Rhetorical questions: The speaker poses a series of rhetorical questions to challenge the notion that his love causes harm or significant disruptions. These questions employ hyperbole and metaphor.

10. Apostrophe: The speaker addresses the listeners directly, invoking them to recognize and honor their love.

11. Anaphora: The repeated use of "You" at the beginning of several lines creates a sense of urgency and emphasis.

12. Imperative tone: The speaker uses an imperative tone, commanding the listener to "hold your tongue" and allow him to love.

These figures of speech and devices contribute to the richness of language and imagery in the poem, enabling Donne to convey complex ideas and emotions effectively. Apart from the above mentioned devices, alliteration, imagery, parallelism etc. can be seen in the poem. . The poem's use of these literary devices adds depth, emphasis, and musicality to the speaker's plea.

Conclusion

The Canonization by John Donne is a poetic testament to the transformative power of love. Through vivid imagery and metaphorical language, Donne delves into the complexities of love, emphasizing its ability to defy societal norms and endure beyond the confines of time. This timeless poem challenges conventional notions of love, inviting readers to contemplate the profound nature of this universal emotion. As we immerse ourselves in Donne's poetic masterpiece, we are reminded that love's influence transcends boundaries and continues to inspire hearts across generations.

Undoubtedly, The Canonization is one of the greatest works of the Metaphysical poet, John Donne. And that's a few points to remember about the poem. Hope you find this blog useful. Leave a comment and let me know what you feel. Thank you.