Metaphysical Conceit in John Donnes The Sun Rising Essay

Metaphysical Conceit in John Donnes The Sun Rising Have you ever been in love? Have you ever felt a love so strong that nothing else seemed to matter? I hope that you have, but if you havent, John Donnes poem, The Sun Rising, gives a revealing glimpse into the emotional roller coaster that is true love. In the poem, Donne uses what is called a metaphysical conceit to emphasize the strength of the devotion between him and his lover. A metaphysical conceit is a metaphor extended to extreme, almost absurd lengths, so it makes sense for it to be used to describe intense feelings such as the devotion of two lovers. This definitely applies here, for in the mind of the narrator, he and his lover are the entire world, and the†¦show more content†¦Upon looking at her, full of pride and bravado, he says to the sun, If her eyes have not blinded thine. Look, and tomorrow late, tell me, Whether both thIndias of spice and mine Be where thou lefst them, or lie here with me. (Lines 15-18). At the time this poem was written, colonialism and world trade were just getting into full swing, so it would have been quite a complement to be compared to the East or West Indies. Both were highly regarded and valued for their spices and gold, respectively. He keeps piling on the praise, though, extending his we are the world metaphor by comparing themselves to all the kings in the world. He tells the sun all here in one bed lay (line 20). As the poem progresses, his comparisons become more grandiose as he heaps more and more complements on the two of them. It is in the third stanza that Donne truly states the theme of the metaphor. It is also where he stretches the metaphor to its farthest lengths. He begins by stating his most blunt argument: She is all states, and all princes, I, Nothing else is. (Lines 21-22) Although slightly chauvinistic by todays standards, his words are strong and to the point, telling us plainly that she is the inhabited world and he, its ruler. 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