‘The
Definition of Love’ is perhaps the most truly metaphysical poem of Marvell
having some similarity with Donne in using metaphysical conceit and theme.
At the very opening of the poem, the speaker expresses the
characteristics and origin of his love. His love has a strange and high object
and “was begotten by despair upon impossibility”, that is, his supreme or
divine love is born of the union of despair and impossibility of physical union.
Only determined Despair can show him such a spiritual love while hope has no
contribution to his love. Yet he might arrive at his destination, his extended
soul. But ‘Fate’ always prevents him from being united like a carpenter drives
iron wedges into a log of wood in order to split it into two parts. Her
‘Decrees of Steel’ have placed them as the ‘distant Poles’ thus fate is their
‘Tyrannick’ enemy.
Then the speaker, as in ‘To His Coy Mistress’, tells that their
union would be possible if three impossible conditions are fulfilled – first if
the ‘Giddy Heaven fall’, if a ‘new Convulsion’ destroy the early and if the
world turns into a ‘Planisphere’.
‘But’, as in the case of ‘To
His Coy Mistress’, their union is not possible, because their motion is ‘parallel’
not ‘oblique’ and there is no possibility of union, though these are infinite.
‘Therefore’ the conclusion is that though love serves as a bond
between them, it will not be fulfilled, because ‘Fate with jealous Eye does
see’ at them. Their situation is ‘Conjunction of the mind’ but ‘Opposition of
the Stars’. That is, they are spiritually united but physically separated.
Now, if we compare the poem with ‘To His Coy Mistress’ we notice
some similarities and some dissimilarities at the same time. From thematic
aspect, it is opposite to the previous one. Because the former urges the
beloved to be physically united. But the latter affirms that their physical
union is totally impossible.
Like the previous one, fate has
an inevitable role in this poem. She does not allow ‘two perfects loves’ to be
united, because their union would ruin her tyrannical power.
The poem, being an excellent Metaphysical poem, draws a number of
images and Metaphysical conceits.
They are drowned from different sources of knowledge, and provide the display of knowledge. A first, their
love is ‘begotten by Despair upon impossibility.’ Here the abstract idea is
expressed like a concrete thing. The three conditions are excellent example of
this kind of conceit. Comparing their position, to the parallel lines actually
draws our attention and displays knowledge.
Thus we see that ‘To His Coy Mistress’ is very much passionate in
tone but The Definition of Love is totally pessimistic.
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