Question: What metaphysical features do you find in the poem, “The Good Morrow”?
Introduction
Metaphysics means beyond concrete Metaphysical poetry means a kind of poetry of the 17th century that deals with abstract ideas. This school of poetry was inaugurated by John Donne (1572-1631). John Donne is called the pioneer of this school of poetry.
Features of metaphysical poetry
According to Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, the term ‘metaphysical poets’ means a group of 17th century English poets who explored the nature of the world and human life, and who used images that were surprising at that time. Metaphysical poetry demands some criteria which are available in “The Good Morrow”.
More Notes of Poetry
Abrupt beginning
The first and foremost feature of metaphysical poetry is that it begins suddenly. There is no introduction or pre-talking for starting of the poem “The Good Morrow” also starts abruptly.
“I wonder, by my troth , what thou and I
Did , till we loved ? Were we not weaned till then?”
Such a type of starting is the strong emblem of abrupt beginning. Therefore “The Good Morrow” is a metaphysical poem.
Abstract themes
The subject matter of metaphysical poetry is abstract ideas or themes. Abstract themes mean discussion with love, belief, God, etc. The defined theme of this poetry is love that has been limned dividing into three stages such as a subconscious, conscious, and immortal stage.
“If our two loves be one, or, thou and I
Love so alike, that none do slacken, none can die.”
From the above lines, we can understand that John Donne has argued how love becomes immortal. When two lovers love each other similarly, nobody and nothing can destroy such love.
Metaphysical conceits
Conceit means a far-fetched comparison between two different things. The use of conceits is the inventive trait of metaphysical poetry. It has made the metaphysical poets very crux to understanding and outstanding to realize. In this very poem, we get several references of conceit. Sometimes the lovers have been compared to the seven-sleepers den, with sucking baby and vividly with hemispheres.
“Where can we find two better hemispheres,
Without sharp north, without declining west?”
Logic and arguments
The soul of metaphysical poetry is logic and arguments. It is well known to all that without logical speech a piece of poetry cannot be a good poem, but the metaphysical poets are extra-ordinary in respect of logic and arguments. From the beginning to the end, there is a bounty of logic and arguments in the poem. we can cite here:
“My face in thine eye, thine in mine appears,
And true plain hearts do in the faces rest;”
Conversational or colloquial language
The next important feature of metaphysical poetry is conversational language. The poet has used a very common language in dealing with his concept of love such as sleep, hemisphere, child, and so on. So This is out and out a metaphysical poem.
Lyricism
Another illustrious trait of metaphysical poetry is its lyrical quality. If you consider all the stanzas of the poem, it will be clear to us that this is a kind of lyric that means song. All lines of the poem are melodious.
“And now good-morrow to our waking souls,
Which watch not one another out of fear;”
Conclusion
In termination, it is to be said that John Donne is the perfect inaugurator of a new branch of poetry that is called metaphysical poetry. As he structurally writes his poem, “The Good Morrow” fulfils all the features of metaphysical poetry.
