Critical analysis of The Definition of Love : Metaphysical elements in The Definition of Love

‘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.



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