A Valediction Forbidding Mourning
Analysis of A Valediction Forbidding Mourning “Our two souls therefore, which are one” (Line 21). In the poem “A Valediction Forbidding Mourning” by John Donne, it explains love and death. Two lovers have deep love for each other, but the man, who is the speaker, passes away. The speaker goes on to say that his lover should not be upset and should know their love will be there no matter if death gets in the way. Love and death are both used to a great extent in this poem and both create the tone of the poem. Throughout the poem, Donne succeeds to prove that true love will not be affected by separation. In the start of the poem, Donne compares virtuous men passing away to his love for his wife. He then explains that his lover should not be upset of his passing and just know that their love will not be torn. After these first two stanzas, the poem begins to have more metaphors. “Moving of th’ earth brings harms and fears,” (Line 9). This line is comparing an earthquake to his love, who has been harmed by his death. People fear earthquakes and are harmed by them just as the woman is harmed by her loss of her husband. The tone of this part of the poem is obviously death and it creates a fearful mood for the reader. The poem continues on to say fear should not affect their love because it is so strong, which refers back to the theme of the story. In the last few stanzas of the poem, an extended metaphor begins. “A breach, but an expansion, Like gold to aery thinness beat,” (Line 24). This line is describing a compass. The compass legs represent the marriage of the couple. This extended metaphor continues to explain that the legs of the compass are always connected and one leg stays put while the other moves around freely, always leaning towards the other leg. This represents the girl staying where she is while the speaker can watch over her and lean towards her. They cannot be separated because they are always bound together like the legs of the compass. The tone