I wonder by my troth, what thou, and I Did, till we lov’d? were we not wean’d till then
Get the full solved assignment PDF of MEG-01 of 2024-25 session now by clicking on above button.
- Context: This excerpt is from John Donne’s “The Good-Morrow”, one of his most famous metaphysical poems. Metaphysical poetry is characterized by its intellectual wit, elaborate metaphors (often called “conceits”), and philosophical musings. In “The Good-Morrow”, Donne explores the idea that love is an awakening, a new consciousness that transforms the way we perceive the world. Before falling in love, the speaker suggests, he and his beloved were living incomplete lives, unaware of the true depth and meaning that love could bring.
- Explanation: In this passage, the speaker reflects on his life before he and his beloved fell in love, wondering what they were doing during that time. The rhetorical question “What did we do till we loved?” suggests that their lives before love were meaningless or trivial, as if they were in a state of ignorance or immaturity. The metaphor of being “wean’d” adds to this idea, implying that before they experienced love, they were like infants who had not yet been nourished or matured by the full experience of life.
The word “wean’d” suggests a transition from a dependent, immature state to one of independence and maturity. In the context of the poem, it implies that love is the force that brings this maturity, awakening the lovers to a deeper, more profound understanding of themselves and the world around them. This awakening is like a rebirth, where the lovers have left behind their old, childish selves and have now entered a new, more enlightened state of being.
Donne’s use of philosophical questioning and intimate reflection is characteristic of metaphysical poetry, which often blends the personal with the universal. Here, the speaker’s personal experience of love becomes a meditation on the nature of human existence, suggesting that true love transforms us, giving life new meaning and depth. The poem as a whole celebrates the idea that love creates a kind of self-contained world for the lovers, where nothing else matters except their shared connection.