Marriage is a social construct that technically has no meaning other than what the person engaging in marriage puts to it. Yet, the idea of marriage is a concept that copious amounts of people hold dear. It wormed its way into the importance of society early, and even dictates the movement in a relationship, most notably that of intimacy. In John Donne’s poem “The Flea,” extended metaphor is used to explain that the act of intimacy does not matter whether it is performed before or after marriage. Also, explicit imagery is noticeable through the poem and outlines the underlying taboo topic being discussed. Another important detail, the flea within the poem is not only used as a comparison in the extended metaphor, but also as a symbol of innocence. In “The Flea,” Donne plainly spites the acceptance of traditional values by using extended metaphor, gross imagery, and symbolism.
“The Flea” is commonly interpreted as indecent, and there is a reason behind the plain and “indecent” language in the poem. The poem’s central theme lies around the subject of premarital sex. It challenges the traditional view that couples should only consummate after marriage. The challenge is inadequately hidden on purpose through the tawdry situation that is a young man trying to lie with a young lady. That being said, premarital sex is not a big deal in today’s times, but it was an extremely scandalous topic in the 1600s. If the readers in 1600s are considered, it’d be an audience of remarkably
“The Interlopers” by Saki, is a story mixed with man vs. man, man vs. nature, and man vs. self, conflict. The resolution is a very surprising twisted fate however. In the beginning we learn of the three generation long quarrel between the Gradwitz’s and the Znaeym’s. “A famous law suit, in the days of his grandfather” (152). The boys grow up hating each other and wishing each other misfortune, and even death upon each other. “as boys they had thirsted for one another's blood, as men each prayed that misfortune might fall on the other” (152). On that night both of the men separate from their groups in search of each other. After a few minutes of searching they find each other. But as fate may have it, nature strikes both men. Suddenly the harsh
Ever since the beginning of time, love has played an enormous role among humans. Everyone feels a need to love and to be loved. Some attempt to fill this yearning with activities and possessions that will not satisfy – with activities in which they should not participate and possessions they should not own. In Andrew Marvell’s poem, “To His Coy Mistress,” the speaker encounters an emotion some would call love but fits better under the designation of lust for a woman. In contrast, the speaker of Robert Herrick’s poem, “To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time,” urges virgins to marry, to make a lasting commitment in which love plays a
During Mr. Rosenberg’s leave we learned different dramatic elements such as script analysis, stasis and intrusion, dramatic conflict, etc. This helps us to understand the different elements so one day when we have to apply the elements we will already be mindful of them. Additionally, we also learned about the beginning of theater dating back to ancient Greece and their different ways of displaying theater.
The novel White Fang is written by Jack London,who is an author of many books.White Fang is non-fiction and it is an interesting novel that drew me in from the start.Personally,I think this novel is important,because it teaches us about wild animals and their personal lifestyles and habitats.Truthfully, the reason I think this novel is important is,that is shows how the wildlife works and responds to dangers such as weather, predators, people, etc.
He goes on to suggest that, when she has killed the flea that holds blood, which in this case is considered as ?life?, from both him and her, that the blood lost had not weakened them (?Find?st not thyself, nor me the weaker now?) and she had not lost any honour. Therefore, with these points considered, the blood she would lose to him would not make her weaker and she would not lose any honour, ?Just so much honour, when thou yield?st to me/ Will waste, as this flea?s death took life from thee?. To some extent, both poets express a way in which they will consummate or have consummated their mistress. Marvell suggests that they should ?roll all their strength and all/ Their sweetness into one ball? and ?tear? their pleasures ?with rough strife/ Through the iron gates of life.? Whereas Marvell explains the consummation as aggressive, sensual and romantic, Donne uses the flea, a very insignificant, unromantic creature, to imply sexual intercourse, ?and in this flee, our two bloods mingled be.?
John Donne’s poems are similar in their content. They usually point out at same topics like love, lust, sex and religion; only they are dissimilar in the feelings they express. These subjects reflect the different stages of his life: the lust of his youth, the love of his married middle age, and the piety of the latter part of his life. His poem,’ The Flea’ represents the restless feeling of lust during his youthful days but it comes together with a true respect for women through the metaphysical conceit of the flea as a church in the rhythm of the sexual act.
In the Alta Loma Hotel in the Bunker Hill district of Los Angeles, writer Arturo Bandini's hotel room window opens onto the ground level, a smog and sand-choked base of a palm tree as his view. Arturo's train of thought
7. The poem begins with the description of a flea, which bit both the narrator and the woman to whom he speaks. Because of this flea, according to the subsequent lines, the two bloods of these individuals are mixed. Despite the bite, however, the author assure that whom he courts that her innocence would not be lost (nor loss of maidenhead), and that if they were to engage in any sort of intimacy, their acts would be more innocent than the flea's bit. In the subsequent stanza, the author speaks of marriage and an eventual union (marriage bed, marriage temple), though again, in the context of encouraging intimacy rather than courting for marriage. He also tells the woman that if she will not give into his requests she
Throughout the past couple of centuries the human narrative has been increasingly presented in terms of acceleration in a phenomenon testifying to what can be termed “the ecstasy of speed.” Novels tend to create societal themes and expressions of progress that change and explode within texts. Uses of world and historical acceleration are overarchingly some of the most easily arrived at examples of “the ectasy of speed.” E.L. Doctorow’s novel Ragtime, which has been adapted into a stage production as well, stands as an example of precisely this sort of text. There is the question of the association of the cultural, historical, and fictional characteristics of Ragtime that critic Brian Roberts has called the “central metaphor” of the novel. When put together with the cohesive historical narrative within the novel, the discussion reveals the ways in which Doctorow uses Ragtime to perform a work that mirrors the ups and downs of the classic ragtime style of music. Doctorow does this through the introduction of a distinctive way of reading history which is vitally deconstructive and politically charged.
has sucked his blood and hers and he is now using this flea as an
The notion of time is used as the basis for the argument in 'To his
Poems are often used to express one’s feelings or ideologies about life, emotion, or nature. In the case of John Donne’s “The Flea”, he is expressing himself in a more unorthodox method by using an extended metaphor. John Donne’s “The Flea” is about a man trying to court a woman by comparing the acceptance of their consummation to blood in a flea while holding religious undertones. The narrator starts by saying, “It sucked me first now it sucks thee, /
“The Flea”, written in 1633, is a poem of seduction lyrics using metaphors of a man courting a woman on the different aspects of their love. It consists of 3 stanzas with a rhyme scheme of 9 lines each ending in a couplet. The man first starts by addressing their unity within the flea. “It sucked me first, and now sucks thee, And in this flea our two bloods mingled be (Donne 517)”. This is symbolic to the holy trinity, which can have a variety of meaning to different believers of faith in God. But in this stanza, the symbolism of the binding of their bloods within the flea - has just consummated their marriage and she has lost her virginity. The fact they are not married and she is a virgin is irreverent in his pursuit to have sex. This simple-minded way of thinking may have contributed to the sanity of marriage today. In his mind, this may seem like a good
In the poem “The Flea” by John Donne, the speaker uses clever sexual innuendo and metaphors in an attempt to manipulate a certain girl into losing her virginity to him. The poem begins with the speaker explaining that a flea has bit both him and her, and now both of