The Renaissance was a cultural movement that began in the 14th century in Italy and gradually affected other western European countries up to the 17th century. The beginning of the Renaissance in England was approximately around 1500 and ended in 1642 when the English Civil War started. Several genres made the most of all written literature of that time to all of the head sonnets and sonnet cycles. "Pamphilia to Amphilanthus", a sonnet cycle of 103 poems and a few songs, was written by Lady Mary Wroth and one of the first poems written by an English woman in history.
Wroth’s sonnets deal partly with desire but she hides it behind metaphors or innuendos. In contrast to her prudish style of writing John Donne’s poems are much more provocative. He is not afraid of talking about desire and physical proximity. He wrote several poems but not linked to each other like in a sonnet sequence. This essay will focus on the poems 15, 31, 33, 46 and 47 of "Pamphilia to Amphilanthus" by Wroth and on "The Flea" and "The Ecstasy" by Donne. Donne’s poems were only published after his death in 1631 hence the exact composing date is unknown.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction to the Renaissance and Literary Context
2. Pamphilia to Amphilanthus: Desire and Identity
3. Comparison with Astrophil and Stella
4. John Donne: Direct Expression of Desire and Sex
5. The Flea and The Ecstasy: Analysis of Donne's Poetry
6. Comparative Conclusion: Wroth and Donne
Objectives and Core Themes
This essay explores the representations of desire, love, and gender dynamics in the works of Lady Mary Wroth, specifically her sonnet cycle Pamphilia to Amphilanthus, and the poetry of John Donne, focusing on The Flea and The Ecstasy.
- The role of female subjectivity and identity in Renaissance literature.
- Contrasting the metaphorical and subtle expressions of desire in Wroth with the direct and body-oriented approach of Donne.
- The impact of societal norms and marriage conventions on the portrayal of romantic relationships.
- The complex connection between physical proximity, the soul, and carnal pleasure in early modern poetry.
Excerpt from the Book
Pamphilia to Amphilanthus: Desire and Identity
Pamphilia to Amphilanthus deals with an unfulfilled love where Pamphilia, the speaker of the poems, tries to resists her feeling for Amphilanthus her beloved. Wroth was the niece of Sir Philip Sidney the author of the sonnet sequence Astrophil and Stella with which Wroth’s sonnet cycle is often compared to because of the many parallels. It is obvious that Wroth was inspired of Sidney’s work which was published 40 years earlier. Poem 15 of Pamphilia to Amphilanthus deals with Pamphilia’s desire for Amphilanthus. She disclaims that she desires Amphilanthus physically “Your sight is all the food I do desire” (v.9). She says that seeing him is enough for her and that she therefore needs no corporal interaction.
Wroth is no different, such that even when a speaker is professing that she can live by sight alone, the nutritive metaphor underlines how much, for human beings, this is impossible (Hecht, 104).
Thus, she says that she can live without physical proximity but in her heart she knows that this is not true. Furthermore, she says that their love could be destroyed by that and that she does not want that. “Destroy not what your glory is to save:| Kill not that soul to which you spirit gave” (v. 2- 3). In the end of the poem she talks about eating air like a chameleon and that she can live by that (cf. v. 13- 14).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction to the Renaissance and Literary Context: Provides an overview of the cultural movement in England and introduces the key authors, Lady Mary Wroth and John Donne.
2. Pamphilia to Amphilanthus: Desire and Identity: Examines how the speaker, Pamphilia, struggles with her desires and the societal pressures placed upon women during the Renaissance.
3. Comparison with Astrophil and Stella: Discusses the differences between Wroth’s cycle and Sidney’s work, noting Pamphilia’s specific focus on her own identity within the relationship.
4. John Donne: Direct Expression of Desire and Sex: Analyzes the contrast in poetic style, highlighting Donne’s emphasis on the body and the link between physical and spiritual love.
5. The Flea and The Ecstasy: Analysis of Donne's Poetry: Delves into specific poems by Donne to demonstrate how he uses complex metaphors to explore marriage, religion, and eroticism.
6. Comparative Conclusion: Wroth and Donne: Summarizes the fundamental differences in how both authors articulate love, desire, and the relationship between the body and the soul.
Keywords
Renaissance, Sonnet, Pamphilia to Amphilanthus, John Donne, Desire, Female Subjectivity, Physical Proximity, Metaphor, Love, Sex, The Flea, The Ecstasy, Poetry, Identity, Marriage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this scholarly work?
The work focuses on comparing the representation of desire and love in Lady Mary Wroth's sonnet cycle "Pamphilia to Amphilanthus" and selected poems by John Donne.
What are the primary thematic fields covered?
The primary themes include female subjectivity, Renaissance social conventions regarding marriage, the intersection of soul and body, and the literary representation of erotic desire.
What is the main research objective?
The objective is to highlight how Wroth uses subtle, often metaphorical language to express desire, in stark contrast to Donne’s explicit and bodily-centered poetic exploration of the same themes.
Which scientific methodology is applied here?
The author utilizes a comparative literary analysis, examining specific poems (15, 31, 33, 46, 47 by Wroth and "The Flea" and "The Ecstasy" by Donne) through the lens of critical theory and existing scholarship.
What is discussed in the main body of the text?
The main body contrasts Wroth’s inward-looking, often hesitant expressions of love and identity with Donne’s direct, often provocative linking of sex, the physical body, and spiritual transcendence.
Which keywords best characterize this research?
Key terms include Renaissance, desire, female subjectivity, John Donne, Mary Wroth, sonnet sequence, and erotic metaphor.
How does Wroth’s view of love differ from the traditional view?
Wroth often complicates the idea of love by embedding it within struggles over femininity and the lack of social agency for women, whereas traditional views, as often questioned by Donne, focused more on the union of souls and bodies.
What role does the "flea" play in Donne's poem?
In "The Flea," the insect acts as a metaphor for the union of the couple's blood, suggesting a marital bond that transcends physical virginity, which the speaker uses to persuade his beloved to engage in a sexual encounter.
- Quote paper
- Laura Commer (Author), 2015, The depiction of desire in Wroth's "Pamphilia to Amphilanthus" and Donne's poems "The Flea" and "The Ecstasy", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/338481
