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    Donne and Wit Essay 1

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    Madison
    1) The document compares John Donne's 17th century metaphysical poetry and Margaret Edson's 20th century play W;t. Both works deal with how suffering can undermine intellectual pride and lead one to a state of humility. 2) Specifically, Donne's poems "Death be not proud" and "If Poysonous Minerals" and scenes from W;t show how the characters initially see themselves as intellectually superior but come to realize the importance of love through their suffering. 3) A key theme is how intellectual arrogance can be broken down to reveal the deeper human truths of love, redemption and our shared mortality.

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    Donne and Wit Essay 1

    Uploaded by

    Madison
    1K views3 pages
    1) The document compares John Donne's 17th century metaphysical poetry and Margaret Edson's 20th century play W;t. Both works deal with how suffering can undermine intellectual pride and lead one to a state of humility. 2) Specifically, Donne's poems "Death be not proud" and "If Poysonous Minerals" and scenes from W;t show how the characters initially see themselves as intellectually superior but come to realize the importance of love through their suffering. 3) A key theme is how intellectual arrogance can be broken down to reveal the deeper human truths of love, redemption and our shared mortality.

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    Essay was written on John Donne Poetry and Margaret Edson's Play W;T

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    1) The document compares John Donne's 17th century metaphysical poetry and Margaret Edson's 20th century play W;t. Both works deal with how suffering can undermine intellectual pride and lead one to a state of humility. 2) Specifically, Donne's poems "Death be not proud" and "If Poysonous Minerals" and scenes from W;t show how the characters initially see themselves as intellectually superior but come to realize the importance of love through their suffering. 3) A key theme is how intellectual arrogance can be broken down to reveal the deeper human truths of love, redemption and our shared mortality.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    1K views3 pages

    Donne and Wit Essay 1

    Uploaded by

    Madison
    1) The document compares John Donne's 17th century metaphysical poetry and Margaret Edson's 20th century play W;t. Both works deal with how suffering can undermine intellectual pride and lead one to a state of humility. 2) Specifically, Donne's poems "Death be not proud" and "If Poysonous Minerals" and scenes from W;t show how the characters initially see themselves as intellectually superior but come to realize the importance of love through their suffering. 3) A key theme is how intellectual arrogance can be broken down to reveal the deeper human truths of love, redemption and our shared mortality.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    The texts compare how Donne's poetry and Edson's play both portray how suffering can erode intellectual ego and lead one to appreciate simple human truths like love and redemption.

    Donne's Holy Sonnets like 'Death be not proud' and 'This is my Playes Last Scene' employ wit and logic to confront mortality and assert control over death through language.

    Bearing employs irony to assert her knowledge of life and death, and her attachment to her IV probe symbolizes her intellectual preoccupation.

    Donne and W;T Essay

    Question: Texts on their own are interesting but when you compare
    them to other texts they become illuminating and dynamic.
    All texts are fundamentally shaped by the prevailing values of their
    context, however a comparative study of texts illuminates transcendental
    concerns inherent to the human condition. John Donnes 17th century
    metaphysical poetry and Margaret Edsons 20th century postmodern play
    W;t both present the perspective that suffering can erode intellectual
    supremacy and leads to a transition from a state of authority to a humble
    disempowerment. Irrespective of their differing contexts and forms, both
    Donnes Holy Sonnets, in particular If Poysonous Minerals and Death be
    not proud and Edsons W;t demonstrates the supremacy of love over
    scientific progression, illuminating the complexities through an intellectual
    ego.
    A comparison of these works reveals the significance of intellect as a
    medium to understand the complexities of their world. Donne shows the
    Jacobean era flourishing Protestant Christianity with death perceived as a
    transitional phase between earthly life and spiritual fate. This theological
    debate characterises the octave of his sonnets such as Death be not
    proud as he refers to the idea that death is transitory, One short sleepe
    past, wee wake eternally. Donne draws on the antithesis between
    sleeping and waking to reflect on the Christian beliefs of the afterlife. In
    his opening apostrophe, Death be not proud though some have called
    thee mighty and dreadful, Donne develops a metaphysical conceit
    through the personification of death to epitomise his valiant struggle to
    find solace from his impending mortality through intellect. Donne creates
    an argument to prove that his greatest fear has no power over him
    through employing sardonic language of logic and wit to deflate deaths
    image. As a common technique of metaphysical poetry, such wit
    embodies Donnes intellectual confrontation of the concerns of his era.
    The octave of This is my Playes Last Scene, functions in a similar
    manner as the speaker argumentatively focuses on the unsettling nature
    of death stating; My spans last inch, my minutes lastest point.
    Furthermore, the Petrarchan form shows Donnes extreme control over
    language which parallels his control over death and its complexities.
    In contrast, the protagonist Vivian Bearing in the play W;t concentrates
    around academia and intellect focusing only on academic success and
    neglecting the importance of human emotions. As portrayed in Death be
    not proud, a similar arrogance is reflected in Vivians response to her

    diagnosis of terminal cancer. This is exemplified in the beginning of the


    play as Bearing employs irony stating, I know all about life and death.
    The use of a dual monologue that parallels that of Kelekain, is emblematic
    of Bearings preoccupation with intellectual hubris and highlights her
    literal and metaphorical attachment to the ubiquitous IV probe.
    Additionally, Edson employs a direct intertextual reference to Death be
    not proud as her instinctive application of intellect is exemplified by
    calling upon the sensationalised punctuation of capital D- comma- thou
    shalt die- exclamation point! The intertextuality of Death be, coupled
    with the dramatic punctuation, serves to convey that the poems
    profoundly simple meaning is sacrificed by her futile application of
    intellect. Consequently, the intellectual hubris becomes inherent to the
    human experience as it deprives her of spiritual consolation.
    A comparative study of the poetic and dramatic treatment of redemption
    and love reveals how suffering can erode this intellectual ego and result in
    a connection with simple human truths. Within Donnes poem If
    Poysonous Minerals the speaker questions Why should intent or reason
    make sins, else equal, in me more heinous? Similar to Vivian, Donne
    values knowledge above all else and thus the apostrophe quality portrays
    Donnes intellectual demeanour as he attempts to seek knowledge
    through questioning religious doctrine. However, the octave concludes
    with a Volta which is paralleled with a shift in tone to a sense of shame
    when Donne questions, But who am I, that dare dispute with Thee? /O
    God. In this colloquy, Donne realises that his desire for knowledge is
    futile and thus a connection to god then become the most important
    thing. This shame is therefore contextually significant as it elucidates
    Donnes transition to humble disempowerment as he regains a longing for
    simple redemption. Such is furthered in the love poetry of Donnes
    collections as it explores the simple nature of human relationships. In the
    poem The sunne rising Donne speaks directly to the unruly sunne to
    display that love is the most powerful thing on earth due to its ability to
    transcend time. He thus suggests that love precedes all, concluding This
    bed thy centre is. Therefore, Donne undermines intellectual
    understandings and concludes that simplicity is more redemptive and
    rewarding.
    Comparatively, Edson suggests that it is only when immersed in this
    suffering can the responder fundamentally learn the values of simplicity
    and kindness. Whilst Donne forms a redemptive relationship with God,
    Edsons context, wherein faith in science has come at the expense of
    religion, highlights Bearings lack of relationships and human connection.
    This is demonstrated through an allusion to Donnes poem If Poysonous

    Minerals whereby Edsons use of dialectical flashbacks when the


    projection of the poem is cast directly upon her references the common
    human plight of intellectual supremacy that endures within post-modern
    context. Yet, as the text progresses Vivian gains humility as she comes to
    not feel so sure of [herself] anymore, resulting in the disintegration of
    her pompous language, which is replaced by the simple statement, just
    let it stop. Furthermore, as Bearings suffering heightens, she seeks the
    supremacy of love to counter both her emotional and physical pain.
    Bearing initially shows a resistance to his love, influenced by her secular
    context, however she seeks to comprehend its immutability stating now
    is a time for, dare I say it, kindness. Here, the resistant tone indicates
    Bearings growing humility of the present, allowing her to appreciate the
    enduring values of love and redemption.

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