Donne\'s \"Sonnet Xix\" God\'s Love

¶ … Donne's "Sonnet XIX"

God's love and mercy often conjure up many different types of images and emotions. John Donne attempted to capture some of these images and emotions in his "Holy Sonnets." These sonnets cover the gamut of human emotions associated with experiencing God's love and redemption. "Sonnet XIX" represents this exploration of human emotions, ranging from one extreme to the other but resulting in the desire for God's love regardless of what kind of fear one may be experiencing. Feelings of inadequacy and appreciation are also explored in this poem, allowing us to see the human side of a relationship with God. "Sonnet XIX" captures the conflict of being a human loved by God, wrestling with fear and devotion. Donne explores the reality of such emotions and comes to terms with them as well as he can.

Sonnet XIX" is part of a series of Poem from the "Holy Sonnets." The sonnets as a whole tell a story and it is helpful to examine "Sonnet XIX" as a piece of this puzzle. Lawrence Beaston maintains that Donne's "Holy Sonnets" represent the depiction of the experience of God's otherness and mystery as well as his presence even in his apparent absence" (Beaston). Beaston notes that the poet in each poem finds himself "pleading with a God who does not respond to their requests but on whom they want to depend" (Beaston). The poem's context is significant for other reason as well. Beaston explains that viewing the poems as "dramatizations of the via negativa is to acknowledge their implications about infirmity of human intellect and human language in human beings' encounter with their creator, but such a reading does not necessarily mean they are poems of despair" (Beaston). Beaston contends that these poems reveal positive aspects of communication with God. While God may seem to be absent, "he is most real in the poet's sense of need, most powerfully felt in his experience of the 'dark night'" (Beaston). This is seen in "Sonnet XIX," as the poet seems to undergo a personal conflict that brings him to a point of fearing God. The fear is brought about by a sense of admiration and humility.

It is also significant to examine the sonnets as a collective piece because the language within them is personal and the movement is "circular, not linear" (Wall qtd. In Stringer 149). Looking at Sonnet XIX as part of a whole, we can see that the poet is not so much seeking "resolution of his relationship with God but instead an exploration of the paradoxes of the Christian life on earth" (149). Wall maintains that the poet is attempting to open himself up to God and become a representation of God's salvation. This salvation cannot be attained or accepted without the poet realizing the greatness of God and the weakness of man. One cannot exist without the other. This sonnet captures the very essence of man realizing his weakness in God's love as well as realizing the power of God's redeeming nature. It is more than powerful and it forces the poet to desire the be closer to God as well as shrink back in fear because the complexity of God's character is almost too amazing to comprehend.

Donne's language is powerful in that it forces us to see the poet's struggles as vividly as possible. One powerful image is mentioned in the first lines when the poet tells us that "contraries meet in one" (Donne Sonnet XIX 1) to vex him. Right away, the poet wishes to convey an image of conflict and turmoil. This is not to frighten us as much as it to is to express his own emotion, which leads him to fear. The poet admits that his best days are the ones in which he will "shake with feare" (14), noting the importance of God's presence in his life, regardless of the price. The poet also tries to avoid the "fantastic ague" (13) haunting him but this becomes difficult because he is the ague. However, the poem does not lives and die in fear. The poet admits that fear is a significant aspect of his spiritual life but that it is not always negative. His fear keeps him in check and, thus, is good for him. What we find in this poem is the pull between the spiritual and the physical world. As a Christian, Donne feels the heavy presence of God, and is aware of his power. In comparison, he feels weak and inferior. These emotions are driven by fear of God and while fear is never good, it can be constructive in regard to building character.

Donne's language is significant because it emphasizes the mood and tone of the poem. He describes himself as "riddenly distempered, cold and hot" (7) - words that illustrate the conflict he is feeling. It is important to realize how these conflicts allow the poet see himself as he actually is. The cold and hot images are polar opposites and they reveal the poet's awareness of his human condition. The conflict within him is also illustrated with the image of a prayer and muteness. God's infinite power forces the poet to realize that he is none but he calls to God. His "devout fits" (12) are come and go just as his fear does and while he realizes that he will have good days and bad days, he is much better with the love of God in his life. The language in this poem is harsh and abrasive and it is successful in conveying the poet's frame of mind.

It is also important to note the placement of this poem is the arrangement of the "Holy Sonnets." "Sonnet XIX" is the last sonnet in the collection and it seems to sum up what the poet has been feeling up until this point. The poem represents a culmination of his good, or best, days. In the beginning of the composition, he is fearful and he seeks God's attention. His fear and his ultimate discovery reassure him of God's redeeming love. However, it also reminds him of the fact that he must maintain his worthiness, which is difficult because he is human. Humanity is the inconsistency that stands in his way and it something that the poet cannot change about himself. This is the conflict, or the contrariness the poet experiences.