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Analysis of 'The Relic' by John Donne.

Introduction

The Relic is a metaphysical poem written by John Donne, a 17th-century English poet. The poem consists of three stanzas, each exploring miraculous nature of the love that the speaker and his beloved shared. Various themes like religion, societal norms, chastity etc. can be seen in the poem. Let's look into the lines first.


The Text:

When my grave is broke up again

Some second guest to entertain,

(For graves have learn'd that woman head,

To be to more than one a bed)

And he that digs it, spies

A bracelet of bright hair about the bone,

Will he not let'us alone,

And think that there a loving couple lies,

Who thought that this device might be some way

To make their souls, at the last busy day,

Meet at this grave, and make a little stay?


If this fall in a time, or land,

Where mis-devotion doth command,

Then he, that digs us up, will bring

Us to the Bishop, and the King,

To make us relics; then

Thou shalt be a Mary Magdalen, and I

A something else thereby;

All women shall adore us, and some men;

And since at such time miracles are sought,

I would have that age by this paper taught

What miracles we harmless lovers wrought.


First, we lov'd well and faithfully,

Yet knew not what we lov'd, nor why;

Difference of sex no more we knew

Than our guardian angels do;

Coming and going, we

Perchance might kiss, but not between those meals;

Our hands ne'er touch'd the seals

Which nature, injur'd by late law, sets free;

These miracles we did, but now alas,

All measure, and all language, I should pass,

Should I tell what a miracle she was.





Summary 

In the poem, the speaker contemplates the fate of his grave being disturbed in the future. He imagines a scenario where another person discovers his remains and finds a bracelet of hair around the bones. The speaker wonders if this would lead the intruder to assume that a loving couple is buried there, who devised this gesture as a way for their souls to reunite on the Day of Judgment.

However, the outcome of this discovery depends on the time and place it occurs. If it happens in a time or land where religious devotion is strong, the person unearthing the grave may present the remains as relics to the bishop and the king. The speaker humorously suggests that his beloved would be revered as Mary Magdalen (a figure associated with devotion and penance) and the speaker as something else, attracting adoration from women and some men. The speaker wants his age to be enlightened about the miracles that love can inspire.

The speaker reflects on his love, acknowledging that they loved each other deeply and faithfully, despite not fully understanding the reasons behind their love or the differences between their genders. They share moments of affection, like kisses, but never went beyond societal boundaries or norms. These acts, though seemingly ordinary, were miraculous in their own right.

The speaker concludes by stating that attempting to describe the miraculous nature of his beloved would require him to exceed all measures and language. The depth and significance of the loved one are beyond words, suggesting a profound and indescribable connection.


Analysis

Now, let's look into the lines stanza by stanza, to understand the poem a bit more. 


Stanza 1:

"When my grave is broke up again

Some second guest to entertain,

(For graves have learn'd that woman head,

To be to more than one a bed)

And he that digs it, spies

A bracelet of bright hair about the bone,

Will he not let'us alone,

And think that there a loving couple lies,

Who thought that this device might be some way

To make their souls, at the last busy day,

Meet at this grave, and make a little stay?"

In this stanza, the speaker imagines a future scenario where his grave is dug up by someone else. He ponders whether the intruder, upon discovering a bracelet of hair around the bones, would assume that a loving couple is buried there. The speaker suggests that the couple had placed the bracelet as a symbol to reunite their souls on the Day of Judgment, hoping for a brief reunion at the grave.


Stanza 2:

"If this fall in a time, or land,

Where mis-devotion doth command,

Then he, that digs us up, will bring

Us to the Bishop, and the King,

To make us relics; then

Thou shalt be a Mary Magdalen, and I

A something else thereby;

All women shall adore us, and some men;

And since at such time miracles are sought,

I would have that age by this paper taught

What miracles we harmless lovers wrought."

In this stanza, the speaker considers the outcome if the grave disturbance occurs in a time or place where religious devotion is strong but misguided (referred to as "mis-devotion"). He predicts that the person unearthing the grave would present the remains as relics to the Bishop and the King. The speaker humorously imagines his beloved being revered as Mary Magdalen (known for her devotion) and himself as something else, attracting adoration from women and some men. The speaker desires that his age learns about the miracles that innocent lovers like him have experienced.


Stanza 3:

"First, we lov'd well and faithfully,

Yet knew not what we lov'd, nor why;

Difference of sex no more we knew

Than our guardian angels do;

Coming and going, we

Perchance might kiss, but not between those meals;

Our hands ne'er touch'd the seals

Which nature, injur'd by late law, sets free;

These miracles we did, but now alas,

All measure, and all language, I should pass,

Should I tell what a miracle she was."

In this final stanza, the speaker reflects on his love. He emphasizes that his love was profound and faithful, even though he did not fully understand the reasons behind it. The speaker suggests that they were unaware of the distinctions between their genders, much like guardian angels. They only shared occasional kisses, avoiding intimacy beyond that. Their love remained innocent and chaste, as they never went beyond the boundaries set by society. The speaker acknowledges the extraordinary nature of their love, describing it as a miracle. He concludes by expressing the difficulty of conveying the true essence of his beloved, acknowledging that any attempt to describe her would surpass all measure and language.


Literary Devices

In this poem, Donne employed many literary devices. Few of them are as follows:

1. Allusion: The speaker alludes to the Biblical figure Mary Magdalen, who is associated with devotion and religious significance. This allusion adds depth and religious undertones to the speaker's imagination of being revered as relics.


2. Metaphor: The line "For graves have learn'd that woman head, To be to more than one a bed" uses metaphorical language to suggest that women's beauty and allure can attract multiple suitors, comparing their heads (thoughts, desires) to beds. This metaphor portrays women as objects of desire and emphasizes the potential interpretation of the loving couple buried in the grave.


3. Hyperbole: The speaker exaggerates the consequences of being unearthed in a time or place of misguided religious devotion, imagining being presented to the Bishop and the King as relics. The hyperbolic statement intensifies the speaker's desire to be recognized and worshipped.


4. Imagery: The image of a "bracelet of bright hair about the bone" creates a vivid picture and symbolizes the love and connection between the buried couple. The image of the bracelet serves as a physical representation of their desire for their souls to meet again in the afterlife.


5. Paradox: The line "All measure, and all language, I should pass" presents a paradox, indicating that the depth and significance of the beloved's qualities are beyond the limitations of measurement and language. This paradox emphasizes the ineffable and extraordinary nature of their love.


6. Irony: The speaker's reflection on his love, describing it as miraculous, carries an ironic tone. Their love is depicted as innocent and chaste, marked by small gestures like kisses, contrasting with the traditional notion of miracles associated with divine intervention or extraordinary events.


These literary devices contribute to the poem's themes of love, devotion, the passage of time, and the power of perception.


Conclusion

In The Relic, Donne weaves together metaphors, imagery, paradoxes, and irony to create a rich tapestry of emotions and ideas. The poem invites us to reflect on the complexities of love, the transient nature of life, and the power of perception in shaping our understanding of others. Donne's words transport us to a future where the speaker's grave is disturbed, leading to a reflection on the potential interpretations of the couple buried within. The use of rhetorical questions heightens curiosity and engages the reader's imagination. The idea that a bracelet of bright hair adorns the bone signifies the enduring symbol of love and unity even beyond death. Overall, the poem serves as a testament to Donne's ability to explore profound themes with eloquence and intellectual depth, leaving a lasting impression on readers and resonating across centuries.

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