Poems of John Donne Essay

In contrast to â€Å"The Flea†, Donne uses metaphors in â€Å"The Broken Heart† in order to show his true bitterness towards love. As J. B. Leishman tells us â€Å"At one time, then, he really thought that there was such a thing as true love and faithfulness in woman, that them was something in the chivalrous devotion of Spenser and the sonneteers. Then he was deceived, was for a time inflamed with hatred and bitterness†. This is clearly shown in â€Å"The Broken Heart† as he uses the metaphor of broken glass as he says † at one first blow did shiver it as glasse†. This reflects the idea of heartbreak as he compares this to the shattering of glass. He goes on to explain how â€Å"though they be not unite; And now as broken glasses show A hundred lesser faces† He is explaining how his heart can reflect different lovers, yet it is still broken. This shows that Donne is using metaphor in order to clearly explain his true emotions and not just to startle his audience. He explains how â€Å"ragges of heart can like, whish and adore, But after one such love, can love no more† This tells us that Donne can never love again now that his heart has already been broken. The metaphor of glass and rags clearly explains that once a heart is broken; though it can be fixed it will never be the same. This tells us that Donne uses metaphors in order to express his true emotions and not just to startle his audience. Critic R. G Cox states that ‘At its best the metaphysical conceit communicates a unified experience; what matters is the sense of imaginative pressure and intensity. ‘ I believe this view is clearly illustrated by Donne’s use of the flea as a conceit. Through this conceit Donne clearly expresses his opinion of his mistress’s chastity and not only startles the reader but sets up a witty and entertaining argument. This is also illustrated in the metaphors used in â€Å"The Broken Heart† as Donne expresses his true emotions about his heartbreak with â€Å"imaginative pressure and intensity†. 1,869 words. 1 A. H Welsh John Donne: The Critical Heritage – Vol. 2 Book by Professor A. J. Smith, Catherine Phillips; Routledge, 1996 2Knowles & Moon (2006) introducing metaphor, (pp 2-6), Abington Rouledge 3R. G Cox, Poems of John Donne.