John Donne’s “The Ecstasy”: Footnotes, Paraphrase with Stanza Breakdown, Title, Theme Analysis, Overall Message, Literary Devices, Historical Context & Comparison to Other Donne Poems

John Donne’s “The Ecstasy”

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.

Footnotes:

L2 "Pregnant bank": A metaphor suggesting abundance or fullness, perhaps implying the potential for growth or creation.
L3 "Reclining head": A symbol of rest or relaxation, possibly indicating a state of peace or contentment.

L6 "Fast balm": A reference to a healing ointment, suggesting a bonding or strengthening agent.
L7 "Eye-beams twisted": A metaphor for intense gaze or mutual attraction.

L9 "Intergraft": To join or unite, implying a deep connection or merging of souls.
L12 "Propagation": Typically refers to the production of offspring, but here it might symbolize a spiritual or intellectual growth.

L18 "Sepulchral statues": A metaphor for a state of stillness or lifelessness, perhaps indicating a deep contemplation or trance.

L21 "Refined": Purified or made more noble, suggesting a higher state of consciousness or understanding.
L27 "Concoction": A mixture or compound, implying a new and unique experience or understanding.

L29 "Unperplex": To clarify or unravel, suggesting a revelation or understanding of love's true nature.

L34 "Mixture of things": A metaphor for the complexity and diversity of individual souls.

L42 "Interinanimates": To give life or spirit to, suggesting a mutual infusion of souls.

L44 "Defects of loneliness": A reference to the inherent limitations or incompleteness of individual existence.

L47 "Atomies": Tiny particles or indivisible units, suggesting the fundamental building blocks of existence.

L52 "Intelligences": Rational or spiritual beings, distinct from the physical body.
L52 "Spheres": Celestial bodies or heavenly realms, often associated with the divine or cosmic order.

L56 "Allay": To lessen or soothe, suggesting a balancing or harmonizing influence.

L58 "Imprints the air": A metaphor for the indirect or subtle influence of external forces.

L62 "Spirits": Vital forces or immaterial beings, often associated with the soul or mind.

L66 "Affections": Emotions or feelings, suggesting the connection between the soul and the body.
L66 "Faculties": Mental or physical abilities, implying the need for a bridge between the spiritual and the material.

L70 "Reveal'd": Made known or visible, suggesting a public or shared understanding of love.
L72 "His book": A metaphor for the physical body as a manifestation or expression of love's mysteries.

Paraphrase with Stanza Breakdown:

Stanza 1 (Lines 1-4): "Where, ……. one another's best."

Paraphrase:
Just as a pillow swells on a bed to provide comfort, the bank of a river bulges, giving a resting place to a violet. Similarly, the two of us sat together, being the best part of each other's lives.

Meaning:
The speaker and his beloved are compared to natural elements that find comfort and rest in each other's company. This setting emphasizes the harmony and unity they share.

Stanza 2 (Lines 5-8): "Our hands were ……..one double string;"

Paraphrase:
Our hands were tightly joined, as if bonded by a strong glue that naturally formed between us. Our gazes intertwined, connecting our eyes as though they were bound by a single thread.

Meaning:
This stanza highlights the physical and emotional connection between the lovers, symbolized by their hands and eyes, which merge to create a deep and inseparable bond.

Stanza 3 (Lines 9-12): "So to'intergraft …….our propagation."

Paraphrase:
Joining our hands was the only way we could become one at that moment. The images in our eyes were the only form of creation or offspring we had.

Meaning:
The lovers' unity is expressed through the physical act of holding hands, and their connection is further deepened by the shared visions in their eyes. This suggests a spiritual or mental union that surpasses physical creation.

Stanza 4 (Lines 13-16): "As 'twixt two equal ……. hung 'twixt her and me."

Paraphrase:
Like two evenly matched armies awaiting the outcome of a battle, our souls, having left our bodies to elevate themselves, were suspended between us, uncertain of what would come next.

Meaning:
The souls of the lovers are depicted as being in a state of tension or limbo, reflecting the uncertainty of the outcome of their spiritual connection.

Stanza 5 (Lines 17-20): "And whilst our souls negotiate ……And we said nothing, all the day."

Paraphrase:
While our souls engaged in silent communication, our bodies lay still like statues in a tomb. We remained in the same position all day, without speaking a word.

Meaning:
This stanza emphasizes the stillness and silence of the lovers' physical bodies as their souls communicate on a higher, more profound level, suggesting a deep spiritual connection.

Stanza 6 (Lines 21-24): "If any, so by love refin'd……convenient distance stood,"

Paraphrase:
If anyone, refined by love to the point where they could understand the language of the soul, and whose mind was fully immersed in pure love, stood nearby,

Meaning:
The stanza suggests that only those who are truly enlightened by love can comprehend the deep, spiritual communication happening between the lovers.

Stanza 7 (Lines 25-28): "He (though he knew not which …… And part far purer than he came."

Paraphrase:
Even if such a person couldn't tell which soul was speaking, since both souls expressed the same thoughts and feelings, they would still leave with a new and purer understanding of love.

Meaning:
This stanza suggests that the unity of the lovers' souls is so complete that their thoughts and expressions are indistinguishable. Anyone who witnesses this would gain a deeper, purified insight into love.

Stanza 8 (Lines 29-32): "This ecstasy doth unperplex, ..We see we saw not what did move;"

Paraphrase:
This state of ecstasy clarifies everything for us, revealing the true nature of our love. We realized it wasn't physical desire driving us, but something deeper that we hadn't recognized before.

Meaning:
The lovers come to understand that their connection goes beyond physical attraction, focusing on a profound spiritual love.

Stanza 9 (Lines 33-36): "But as all several souls contain ….. both one, each this and that."

Paraphrase:
Just as all souls contain a mix of elements they are unaware of, love blends these mixed souls together, making them one, each becoming part of the other.

Meaning:
This stanza describes how love unites and merges the complexities within each soul, creating a harmonious and unified whole.

Stanza 10 (Lines 37-40): "A single violet transplant, ….Redoubles still, and multiplies."

Paraphrase:
When a single violet is transplanted, its strength, color, and size, which were previously weak and small, grow and multiply.

Meaning:
The violet symbolizes the growth and flourishing of love when it is nurtured and transplanted into a nurturing environment, reflecting how love strengthens and enhances the lovers.

Stanza 11 (Lines 41-44): "When love with one another so …..Defects of loneliness controls."

Paraphrase:
When love animates and intertwines two souls so deeply, the stronger soul that emerges from this union overcomes the flaws of loneliness.

Meaning:
This stanza emphasizes the power of love to merge two souls into a stronger, unified entity, capable of overcoming the isolation and loneliness that individuals may experience.

Stanza 12 (Lines 45-48): "We then, who are this new soul, know Of….whom no change can invade."

Paraphrase:
As this newly formed soul, we understand what we are made of—the essence of our being is composed of souls that are immune to any change.

Meaning:
The lovers recognize that their united soul is made of a spiritual essence that is eternal and unchangeable, symbolizing the permanence of their bond.

Stanza 13 (Lines 49-52): "But oh alas, so long, so far, Our bodies……The intelligences, they the spheres."

Paraphrase:
But, sadly, why do we keep our bodies apart for so long? They belong to us, even though they are not truly us; we are the minds, and they are the physical forms.

Meaning:
The speaker reflects on the separation between their spiritual connection and their physical bodies, acknowledging the distinction between their true selves and their physical forms.

Stanza 14 (Lines 53-56): "We owe them thanks, because …..Nor are dross to us, but allay."

Paraphrase:
We should thank our bodies, because they initially brought us together and allowed us to experience love through our senses. They are not mere waste to us, but a necessary component.

Meaning:
The speaker expresses gratitude for their bodies, recognizing that physical connection played a crucial role in bringing them together and enabling their love to flourish.

Stanza 15 (Lines 57-60): "On man heaven's influence works not so,..it to body first repair."

Paraphrase:
Heaven's influence on a person doesn't work directly, but rather first affects the surrounding air. Similarly, a soul can connect with another soul, even though it initially passes through the body.

Meaning:
The stanza draws a parallel between divine influence and the soul's connection, suggesting that while physical interaction is the first step, the true connection occurs on a spiritual level.

Stanza 16 (Lines 61-64): "As our blood labors to beget Spirits,...knot which makes us man,"

Paraphrase:
Just as our blood works to create spirits that resemble souls, we need these connections to weave the delicate bond that defines our humanity.

Meaning:
This stanza emphasizes the importance of both physical and spiritual connections in forming the essence of what it means to be human.

Stanza 17 (Lines 65-68): "So must pure lovers' souls descend …a great prince in prison lies."

Paraphrase:
Pure lovers' souls must also engage with emotions and faculties that the senses can grasp; otherwise, a great spirit is trapped, like a prince in prison.

Meaning:
The stanza highlights the need for the spiritual connection between lovers to manifest in a way that can be experienced and understood by the senses, or else it remains unfulfilled.

Stanza 18 (Lines 69-72): "To'our bodies turn we then, …… yet the body is his book."

Paraphrase:
Let us return to our bodies, so that others, who are weaker, can see the revelation of our love. Love's mysteries develop in the soul, but they are also expressed through the body.

Meaning:
The lovers acknowledge that while their spiritual connection is profound, it must also be expressed physically for others to perceive and understand it.

Stanza 19 (Lines 73-76): "And if some lover, such as we, …. when we'are to bodies gone."

Paraphrase:
If another lover like us has heard this conversation between our souls, let them observe us; they will see that even when we return to our bodies, our love remains unchanged.

Meaning:
The final stanza emphasizes the constancy of the lovers' connection, asserting that their love remains the same whether expressed spiritually or physically.

Title:

The Ecstasy - comes from ek stasis - Greek for " Stand (stasis) outside (ek) ."

→Used by mystical writers as the technical name for the state of rapture in which the body was supposed to become incapable of sensation, while the soul was engaged in the contemplation of divine things.

→An exalted state of feeling which engrosses the mind to the exclusion of thought; rapture, transport.

Theme Analysis of "The Ecstasy" by John Donne

Central Themes:

John Donne's "The Ecstasy" is a complex and multifaceted poem that explores several interconnected themes:

The Nature of Love: The poem delves into the metaphysical nature of love, suggesting that it is not merely a physical or emotional connection but a spiritual union. Donne suggests that true love transcends the limitations of the body and becomes a form of divine ecstasy.
The Soul and the Body: The poem contrasts the soul and the body, asserting that the soul is the true seat of love and that the body is merely a vessel for the soul. Donne implies that the physical aspects of love are secondary to the spiritual union that occurs between two souls.
The Metaphysical Concept of Love: The poem employs metaphysical imagery and language to explore the nature of love. Donne uses metaphors and similes to compare love to various metaphysical concepts, such as the union of two souls, the interweaving of two eyes, and the blending of two substances.
The Limitations of Physicality: The poem critiques the limitations of physical love, suggesting that it is ultimately unsatisfying and incomplete. Donne implies that true fulfillment can only be achieved through a spiritual union of souls.
The Power of Love: Despite its limitations, the poem celebrates the power of love to transcend physicality and achieve a state of divine ecstasy. Donne suggests that love is a force that can elevate the human soul to a higher plane of existence.

Overall Message:

The overall message of "The Ecstasy" is that true love is a spiritual union that transcends the limitations of the body and achieves a state of divine ecstasy. The poem suggests that this kind of love is rare and precious, and that it is worth pursuing even if it requires sacrifice and suffering.

Literary Devices in "The Ecstasy":

John Donne is known for his innovative use of literary devices, and "The Ecstasy" is no exception. Here are some of the key poetic techniques employed in this poem:

Metaphor: Donne frequently uses metaphors to compare love to various abstract concepts. For example, he compares the lovers' souls to "sepulchral statues" and their eyes to "one double string."

Simile: He also uses similes to draw comparisons between love and concrete objects. For instance, he compares the lovers' hands to "two equal armies" and their souls to "a single violet transplant."

Metaphysical Conceit: Donne is famous for his use of metaphysical conceits, which are extended metaphors that compare seemingly unrelated things. In "The Ecstasy," he uses the conceit of the lovers' souls as "atoms" that combine to form a new substance.

Paradox: Donne often employs paradoxes to create a sense of tension and ambiguity. For example, he suggests that the lovers' souls are both "one" and "several."

Hyperbole: He uses hyperbole to emphasize the intensity of the lovers' experience. For instance, he claims that their love is "all the means to make us one" and that it can "defects of loneliness controls."

Enjambment: Donne frequently uses enjambment to create a sense of flow and rhythm in his poetry. This technique involves breaking a sentence across multiple lines, which can disrupt the reader's expectations and create a sense of suspense.

Visual Imagery: Donne uses vivid imagery to create a sensory experience for the reader. For example, he describes the "pregnant bank" where the lovers sit and the "fast balm" that binds their hands together.

These literary devices contribute to the poem's complexity and richness, allowing Donne to explore the metaphysical nature of love in a profound and imaginative way.

Historical Context of "The Ecstasy"

John Donne, the author of "The Ecstasy," was a prominent English poet and cleric who lived from 1572 to 1631. His work reflects the intellectual and cultural climate of the English Renaissance.

Key Historical Influences:

The English Renaissance: The Renaissance was a period of intellectual and cultural revival in Europe, characterized by a renewed interest in classical literature, art, and philosophy. Donne's poetry reflects the Renaissance emphasis on humanism, individualism, and the exploration of new ideas.
Metaphysical Poetry: Donne was a leading figure in the metaphysical poetry movement, which emerged in England in the early 17th century. Metaphysical poets were known for their intellectual sophistication, complex imagery, and exploration of philosophical and religious themes. "The Ecstasy" is a prime example of metaphysical poetry, with its intricate conceits and exploration of the nature of love and the soul.
Religious Influences: Donne was a devout Anglican, and his poetry often reflects his religious beliefs. "The Ecstasy" explores the spiritual dimension of love, suggesting that it can be a form of divine ecstasy.
The Elizabethan Era: Donne lived during the Elizabethan era, a time of great cultural and political change in England. The Elizabethan era was characterized by a sense of optimism and adventure, as well as a fascination with the unknown. These themes are reflected in Donne's poetry, which often explores the mysteries of love and the human condition.

Comparing "The Ecstasy" to Other Works

Comparison to Other Donne Poems:

"The Flea": Both "The Ecstasy" and "The Flea" explore the nature of love and the relationship between the soul and the body. However, "The Flea" uses a more humorous and ironic tone to explore these themes, while "The Ecstasy" is more serious and contemplative.
"Batter my heart, three person'd God (Holy Sonnet 14)": Both poems deal with religious and spiritual themes, but "Batter My Heart" is more overtly religious, focusing on the speaker's desire for divine love. "The Ecstasy" explores the spiritual dimension of love in a more abstract and philosophical way.

Conclusion:

"The Ecstasy" is a product of its time, reflecting the intellectual and cultural influences of the English Renaissance, the metaphysical poetry movement, and the Elizabethan era. Donne's innovative use of literary devices and his exploration of complex philosophical and religious themes make this poem a timeless masterpiece.

Search This Blog

AD's English Literature