John Donne’s The Funeral Essay

As with most poets of his time, Donne was obsessed with death. Mesmerized by its mysteries, charmed by its allure, and convinced of the existence of an afterlife (as a result of Christian theology), he finds himself at times unable to settle on a particular overhear of the subject. While a considerable portion of Donnes opus deals with death either directly or indirectly, approximately poems depict death as undistinguished while others present it as something he, and therefore humans, should fear. As a Christian, Donne believed (although perhaps did not understand) the concept of an afterlife. This conviction is shown by his understanding of death as a necessary stage before reaching the glory of heaven, the promised life with God (http//www.luminarium.org/s thus farlit/oliver.htm).John Donnes The Funeral is a sonnet of strong emotions. The writer is leaving slow psyche he loved and who loved him greatly. The Funeral is a way for him to say good-bye, to end this love the best wa y he knows how.The poem begins with a adduce to the subtle wreath of pig which crowns my arm (3). This small braid was app bently a tradition from the Renaissance era where a woman would give a braid of her hairs-breadth to the man she loved. He requests that it should be left alone because it is what completeshim, his outward soul (5). He seems to have made this small symbol of her mettle everything he is about. He says he is leaving it to control and to keep her from dying. How does a small circlet of hair keep her active? He is keeping her essence, her spirit, and her memory alive by keeping a part of her with him when he crosses over to the other side.Donne mentions that These hairs which upward grew, and strength and art/ Have from a fail brain (12-3). The hair the woman gave him is strong and beautiful, but from something better. She seems to be from a higher and better stature than he is so just the fact that he has this braid of hair from her, he feels noteworthy. I tak e the statement Can better do it except she meant that I/ By this should know my pain (14-5) to mean that he better remember her when he is gone, unless he knows how much pain he is going to be going through when he dies. Donne continues, As prisoners then be manacled, when theyre condemned to die (16). His death will mean the loss of her, so the pain he will experience could mean the heartache a prisoner feels having to move over his or her previous life once sentenced to death. A prisoners life is over as soon as they are given their hex just as a individuals life is concluded when they die.The third stanza brings him back to where he started, the bracelet of hair. He doesnt care what her intentions are or were behind the hair, all he wants to assure is that it will be with him when he is laid to rest. The man states that he is Loves martyr (19) and that if some other person happens to stumble on the hair, it might breed idolatry (19). The fact that he has the idea that this s mall braid of hair could create someone to adore it supports the theory that this woman was more than just an average person was. She must have been of some importance in order for him to want to nurture it so carefully. He calls the hair a relic, which is a part of the body, clothing, or other belongings of a saint, martyr, or other deceased holy person which is carefully preserved as an object of veneration. The use of the word relic helps support the belief of the womans significance.The last two lines of the sonnet are what drive home the impression that whoever this woman was, she was important. So tis some bravery, / Thatsince you would save none of me, I bury some of you (23-4). She didnt keep anything that would remind her of him, and just with some courage, he is able to bury this small token with him. Another interpretation says that save used to be printed as have which suggests a cozy relationship. This would mean that she didnt want him in the same way he wanted her, it takes audacity for him to keep something of hers with him for the rest of time.He was very over prophylactic of the slight braid of hair that he obtained from this female. It is as if he had a small part of a celebrity that he didnt want anyone else to even have the opportunity to see. It is hard to draw any definite conclusions about who this woman was and what the relationship between she and he exactly boils down to. It is safe to feign however that she was at least of some relevance to him and he was consumed with even the idea of her.