Elizabeth Hardman
Eng 201-1401
November 20, 2022
Metaphysical Conceit in “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning”
According to Michael Meyer, “A metaphor is a figure of speech that makes a comparison
between two unlike things, without using the words like or as.” The poem “A Valediction:
Forbidding Mourning” written by John Donne uses metaphors and similes to express how
powerful the feeling of love can be between two souls not just on a physical level but a spiritual
one as well. In this poem, Donne uses the concept of metaphysical conceit and many metaphors
to describe the relationship of two people that are not only sublunary lovers. He is able to
compare this soulmate-like relationship in a way that the spiritual qualities of the tenor share no
physical features with the vehicle that it is being compared to.
In the poem “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning”, Donne uses a simile (a metaphor that
uses like or as) to give the relationship spiritual-like qualities while also comparing it to a
physical object. In the poem, Donne writes;
“Our two souls therefore, which are one,
Though I must go, endure not yet
A breach, but an expansion,
Like gold to airy thinness beat.” (Stanza 6)
When analyzing the lines, the tenor (subject of comparison) is their souls, the couple
themselves, and their love, but their love is so strong that they are like one soul combined. The
vehicle (what the subject is being compared to) is how the essence of their love is being
compared to gold since the gold is one like them and can be expanded no matter how far they are
but it will never break. Their love is expanding like gold but they are still in one piece and as
they spread out they are still stronger than ever. Donne uses this simile and the concept of
metaphysical conceit to tie it into the main point or extended metaphor of the poem which is
essentially why as lovers they should not be sad to depart at times because their love is so strong
and more than just physical. In my opinion, it is out of this world. They are one and are each
other's soulmates. The metaphors in the poem, especially the one I mentioned compliments the
meaning of the title and poem. It evokes different feelings of love and invites the readers to feel
and interpret the metaphors that Donne uses.
In the poem “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning”, Donne uses another simile to
describe his relationship in an unworldly or metaphysical way while also using physical
qualities. In the poem, Donne writes;
“If they be two, they are two so
As stiff twin compasses are two;
Thy soul, the fixed foot, makes no show
To move, but doth, if the other do.” (Stanza 7).
When analyzing these lines, the tenor remains the same, which is their soul as one or their
love as a whole. The vehicle is their soul being compared to a compass (used to create a circle or
measure distance). The extended metaphor of this stanza is that this relationship or couple are
one or in the case of describing the compass they are two but make one because separately they
make up the compass together. They are a pair of compasses and it has two legs or needles.
When one moves the other stays still but keeps moving forward in a way while the other one
moves forward. Donne describes it in a way that for example she is the center of the compass
and he is the one moving around her, the farther he goes physically the more they stretch out but
they are still always connected because of their metaphysical bond. No matter what the man
makes a full and perfect circle because the woman and their relationship are his center and keeps
him grounded. Donne finds beautiful ways to incorporate the concepts of metaphysical conceit in
his metaphors and describes the vision of what a non-sublunar or spiritual relationship is like.
In conclusion, the poem “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” shows that being able to
have or feel a metaphysical relationship is very rare and Donne effortlessly can use such
metaphors and language that help the readers envision and feel what it is like to have a
non-sublunar relationship. The common idea that I notice throughout the poem is Donne uses the
soulmates in the poem as the tenor and then he finds many different physical ideas and objects to
compare their love to as the vehicles. Donne evokes emotion from readers by using amazing
metaphysical conceits and other metaphors to explain the main theme of the poem which is
simply asking you not to mourn the departure of your loved ones because if the love is truly there
in a relationship then your souls are bonded for life.
Work Cited:
Donne, John. A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning. Florin Press, 1981.