The Flea, By John Donne
A work of literature in regards to sex and romance creates an image that shows an emotional aspect rather than a person's physical attributes. For instance, the elements of romance consist of cherishment or display of mutual affection. However, the poem, “The Flea” written by John Donne, changes the tradition of the romance perspective of sex by discussing intimacy in a straightforward manner.The poem is more of a crude satirical seduction rather than a romance poem. This lyrical piece is not a romance poem but a realistic approach to sex being an instinct, thus demonstrating a crude carpe diem viewpoint.
To begin with, the speaker in John Donne’s poem has a crude carpe diem approach in which he tells the woman in a blunt manner to have sex
without considering the consequences. He has a relentless argumentative tone as he states, “Mark but this flea and mark in this / How little that which thou deniest me is”(1-2). He is setting up his argument with the repetition of “mark”(1), in which he is demanding that she listen to his argument and focus on the act of the flea. Referring to sex as “little that”(2) minimizes the romantic element of sex, in a way that makes sex seem harmless. The speaker is demonstrating that the flea, as it represents sex, has more weight than the woman’s worries. This shows the crudeness of the satirical seduction, in which he justifies the woman having sex with him being equivalent to a small flea bite. He informally compares the flea and sex with the diction “pampered swells”(8), with which he describes the outer appearance of a flea after it is done feeding, to describe an erection. This brings up an absurd and disgusting image, thus adding to the satirical attitude of the poem. His form of unromantic seduction gives a blunt yet comedic sense of sex being instinctual.
Throughout the poem, John Donne uses an unusual conceit by comparing intercourse and the flea’s instinct to suck blood. The speaker describes the flea that has bitten both the speaker and the woman by stating, “And in this flea our two bloods mingled be”(4). He is regarding the flea as the carrier of their fluids. The flea does not suck blood in the name of love; he does it in order to survive. His comparison of sex to a small insect such as the flea shows that he interprets sex to be a natural intimate act that humans do in order to survive or reproduce. He further suggest that sex is not a sin by using the example of the flea bite, saying, “A sin, nor shame, nor loss of maidenhead”(6) this quote states that the flea bite itself does not represent a sin because it has done what comes naturally to it, thus portraying sex as an natural element of human life. This further shows the crude satirical carpe diem approach by minimizing sex with a thoughtless act of a flea. This demonstrates a flippant attitude, in which he uses the small flea bite to justify his reasoning of sex being an instinct and nothing more.
Overall, the speaker of the poem is crude when he compares the instinct of the flea with an intimate act. John Donne’s poem does not resemble a work of romance, due to his bluntness of being intimate. He does not take a romantic approach that shows the woman to be cherished but demonstrates the little importance she has.
To begin with, the speaker in John Donne’s poem has a crude carpe diem approach in which he tells the woman in a blunt manner to have sex
without considering the consequences. He has a relentless argumentative tone as he states, “Mark but this flea and mark in this / How little that which thou deniest me is”(1-2). He is setting up his argument with the repetition of “mark”(1), in which he is demanding that she listen to his argument and focus on the act of the flea. Referring to sex as “little that”(2) minimizes the romantic element of sex, in a way that makes sex seem harmless. The speaker is demonstrating that the flea, as it represents sex, has more weight than the woman’s worries. This shows the crudeness of the satirical seduction, in which he justifies the woman having sex with him being equivalent to a small flea bite. He informally compares the flea and sex with the diction “pampered swells”(8), with which he describes the outer appearance of a flea after it is done feeding, to describe an erection. This brings up an absurd and disgusting image, thus adding to the satirical attitude of the poem. His form of unromantic seduction gives a blunt yet comedic sense of sex being instinctual.
Throughout the poem, John Donne uses an unusual conceit by comparing intercourse and the flea’s instinct to suck blood. The speaker describes the flea that has bitten both the speaker and the woman by stating, “And in this flea our two bloods mingled be”(4). He is regarding the flea as the carrier of their fluids. The flea does not suck blood in the name of love; he does it in order to survive. His comparison of sex to a small insect such as the flea shows that he interprets sex to be a natural intimate act that humans do in order to survive or reproduce. He further suggest that sex is not a sin by using the example of the flea bite, saying, “A sin, nor shame, nor loss of maidenhead”(6) this quote states that the flea bite itself does not represent a sin because it has done what comes naturally to it, thus portraying sex as an natural element of human life. This further shows the crude satirical carpe diem approach by minimizing sex with a thoughtless act of a flea. This demonstrates a flippant attitude, in which he uses the small flea bite to justify his reasoning of sex being an instinct and nothing more.
Overall, the speaker of the poem is crude when he compares the instinct of the flea with an intimate act. John Donne’s poem does not resemble a work of romance, due to his bluntness of being intimate. He does not take a romantic approach that shows the woman to be cherished but demonstrates the little importance she has.