Introduction: “Hymn to God, My God, in My Sickness” by John Donne
“Hymn to God, My God, in My Sickness” by John Donne, first appeared in 1633 in the collection Poems, is popular for its introspective and metaphysical style, the poem explores themes of mortality, faith, and the soul’s journey. Donne uses vivid imagery and complex metaphors to convey his profound contemplation of death and his relationship with God. The central idea is that physical sickness can be a spiritual awakening, leading to a deeper understanding of one’s mortality and reliance on divine grace.
Text: “Hymn to God, My God, in My Sickness” by John Donne
Since I am coming to that holy room,
Where, with thy choir of saints for evermore,
I shall be made thy music; as I come
I tune the instrument here at the door,
And what I must do then, think here before.
Whilst my physicians by their love are grown
Cosmographers, and I their map, who lie
Flat on this bed, that by them may be shown
That this is my south-west discovery,
Per fretum febris, by these straits to die,
I joy, that in these straits I see my west;
For, though their currents yield return to none,
What shall my west hurt me? As west and east
In all flat maps (and I am one) are one,
So death doth touch the resurrection.
Is the Pacific Sea my home? Or are
The eastern riches? Is Jerusalem?
Anyan, and Magellan, and Gibraltar,
All straits, and none but straits, are ways to them,
Whether where Japhet dwelt, or Cham, or Shem.
We think that Paradise and Calvary,
Christ’s cross, and Adam’s tree, stood in one place;
Look, Lord, and find both Adams met in me;
As the first Adam’s sweat surrounds my face,
May the last Adam’s blood my soul embrace.
So, in his purple wrapp’d, receive me, Lord;
By these his thorns, give me his other crown;
And as to others’ souls I preach’d thy word,
Be this my text, my sermon to mine own:
“Therefore that he may raise, the Lord throws down.”
Annotations: “Hymn to God, My God, in My Sickness” by John Donne
| Stanza | Annotation |
| Stanza 1: “Since I am coming to that holy room,…” | The speaker is preparing for death, metaphorically describing it as entering a “holy room” where he will join the choir of saints in heaven. He reflects on tuning himself (his soul) for this moment, contemplating his future existence in the afterlife. |
| Stanza 2: “Whilst my physicians by their love are grown…” | Donne compares his physicians to cosmographers (map-makers) and himself to a map. He is lying on his deathbed, while his doctors chart the progress of his illness as if it were a journey of discovery. His death is described as a “south-west discovery.” |
| Stanza 3: “I joy, that in these straits I see my west;…” | Death is referred to as “my west,” which symbolizes the end of life. Donne reflects on how in flat maps, west and east meet, symbolizing that death and resurrection are interconnected. He expresses his joy in seeing the connection between death and rebirth. |
| Stanza 4: “Is the Pacific Sea my home? Or are…” | Donne reflects on geographical straits (Magellan, Gibraltar, Anyan) as metaphors for the passage to the afterlife. He wonders if Jerusalem, a symbol of religious redemption, or other places are his final home, ultimately acknowledging all paths lead to God. |
| Stanza 5: “We think that Paradise and Calvary,…” | The speaker meditates on the theological idea that both the Fall of Adam and the redemption through Christ’s crucifixion (Calvary) are linked. Donne sees himself as a meeting point for these two Adams, asking for Christ’s blood to save his soul. |
| Stanza 6: “So, in his purple wrapp’d, receive me, Lord;…” | In his final prayer, Donne asks to be received by Christ, clothed in the purple of Christ’s sacrifice. He requests to be crowned with Christ’s crown of thorns and preaches to his own soul, acknowledging that suffering precedes resurrection and salvation. |
Literary And Poetic Devices: “Hymn to God, My God, in My Sickness” by John Donne
| Device | Definition | Example | Explanation |
| Alliteration | The repetition of initial consonant sounds in words that are close together. | “Flat on this bed, that by them may be shown” | Emphasizes the speaker’s physical state and vulnerability. |
| Allusion | A reference to a famous person, place, event, or work of literature. | “The eastern riches” | Suggests the possibility of a spiritual journey or exploration. |
| Apostrophe | Addressing a person or thing that is not present. | “O Death, where is thy sting?” | Creates a sense of intimacy and directness. |
| Conceit | An extended metaphor that compares two unlike things in a surprising and ingenious way. | “I am their map” | Compares the speaker to a map, suggesting that his body is a guide to his spiritual journey. |
| Metaphor | A figure of speech that compares two unlike things without using “like” or “as.” | “I am coming to that holy room” | Compares the speaker’s death to a journey to a sacred place. |
| Metonymy | A figure of speech that substitutes the name of something with something closely related to it. | “Christ’s cross” | Represents the crucifixion and salvation. |
| Paradox | A statement that seems contradictory but expresses a truth. | “So death doth touch the resurrection” | Suggests that death is a necessary step towards spiritual renewal. |
| Personification | Giving human qualities to non-human things. | “The first Adam’s sweat surrounds my face” | Emphasizes the physical and spiritual connection between the speaker and Adam. |
| Simile | A figure of speech that compares two unlike things using “like” or “as.” | “As west and east in all flat maps (and I am one) are one” | Suggests that death is a natural part of life’s cycle. |
| Symbolism | The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities. | “The sea” | Represents the unknown and the infinite. |
| Anaphora | The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences. | “Is the Pacific Sea my home? Or are the eastern riches? Is Jerusalem?” | Creates a sense of urgency and anticipation. |
| Antithesis | The juxtaposition of contrasting ideas or images. | “For, though their currents yield return to none, What shall my west hurt me?” | Highlights the speaker’s acceptance of death. |
| Chiasmus | A rhetorical device in which the order of words in the first part of a sentence is reversed in the second part. | “As the first Adam’s sweat surrounds my face, May the last Adam’s blood my soul embrace.” | Creates a sense of balance and symmetry. |
| Enjambment | The continuation of a sentence beyond the end of a line of poetry. | “I tune the instrument here at the door, And what I must do then, think here before.” | Creates a sense of flow and rhythm. |
| Hyperbole | Exaggeration for effect. | “I shall be made thy music” | Expresses the speaker’s intense desire to be united with God. |
| Irony | A figure of speech in which what is said is the opposite of what is meant. | “I joy, that in these straits I see my west” | Suggests that the speaker finds comfort in the inevitability of death. |
| Oxymoron | A figure of speech that combines contradictory terms. | “Flat map” | Suggests a paradox of a two-dimensional representation of a three-dimensional world. |
| Synecdoche | A figure of speech in which a part is used to represent the whole, or vice versa. | “His other crown” | Represents the eternal reward of heaven. |
Themes: “Hymn to God, My God, in My Sickness” by John Donne
· Mortality and the Inevitability of Death
- Donne’s poem confronts mortality head-on, exploring the speaker’s awareness of his impending death. The imagery of a voyage, with the speaker as a map and death as the destination, emphasizes the inevitability of this final journey. Lines like “I see my west” and “So death doth touch the resurrection” highlight the speaker’s acceptance and even anticipation of death.
· Faith and the Divine
- Throughout the poem, Donne expresses a deep faith in God and a belief in the afterlife. He addresses God directly, seeking solace and guidance in the face of his illness. The imagery of a “holy room” and the mention of “the choir of saints” suggest a heavenly destination awaiting the speaker.
· Spiritual Awakening and Transformation
- The speaker’s illness serves as a catalyst for spiritual growth and reflection. He sees his physical suffering as a metaphor for a spiritual journey, comparing his body to a map that guides him towards a deeper understanding of himself and his relationship with God. The lines “I tune the instrument here at the door” and “As the first Adam’s sweat surrounds my face” suggest a process of spiritual transformation.
· The Paradox of Suffering and Grace
- Donne explores the paradox of suffering and grace, suggesting that physical pain can be a means of spiritual enlightenment. He finds solace in the idea that his suffering is part of God’s plan and that it will ultimately lead to eternal salvation. The lines “Therefore that he may raise, the Lord throws down” and “By these his thorns, give me his other crown” emphasize this theme.
Literary Theories and “Hymn to God, My God, in My Sickness” by John Donne
- Religious/Christian Symbolism: This poem can be analyzed through the lens of Christian symbolism, focusing on Donne’s exploration of death as a path to resurrection. Donne consistently uses Christian imagery to depict his final moments and his faith in salvation. For instance, he refers to “Christ’s cross, and Adam’s tree” (line 26), linking the Fall of man and Christ’s redemption. The final stanza encapsulates this belief in resurrection through suffering: “Therefore that he may raise, the Lord throws down” (line 35). Donne’s acceptance of his suffering as a necessary precursor to his eventual spiritual rebirth aligns with Christian theology, viewing death as a means to enter eternal life.
- Metaphysical Poetry and Conceit: As a key figure in metaphysical poetry, Donne employs elaborate conceits that compare seemingly unrelated concepts. This poem’s conceit likens the speaker’s illness and death to a geographical journey or a map. In the second stanza, Donne’s physicians become “cosmographers” (line 6), while he is their map, lying flat on his bed. This extended metaphor reflects a common metaphysical technique, where Donne uses the physical (maps, geographical discoveries) to convey complex spiritual truths, such as his approaching death being his “south-west discovery” (line 9), and the inevitable passage to the afterlife.
- Psychoanalytic Criticism: Through the lens of psychoanalytic criticism, Donne’s poem can be seen as a meditation on the anxiety and acceptance of death. The poem reflects a struggle between the speaker’s fear of mortality and his desire for spiritual peace. The image of being “wrapp’d” in Christ’s purple and crowned with thorns (line 31) suggests an internal reconciliation of suffering with salvation. Donne’s repeated references to maps and straits symbolize his psychological navigation of life and death. His final acceptance of death as a necessary passage—”As west and east / In all flat maps (and I am one) are one” (lines 13–14)—reveals a subconscious resolution that death and resurrection are intertwined, offering comfort amidst his fear.
Critical Questions about “Hymn to God, My God, in My Sickness” by John Donne
- How does Donne reconcile the physical pain of illness with spiritual joy in the poem?
- Donne presents a paradoxical relationship between physical suffering and spiritual fulfillment. Throughout the poem, he contemplates death with a sense of acceptance and even joy. In stanza three, he writes, “I joy, that in these straits I see my west” (line 10), suggesting that despite his physical agony, he finds peace in the knowledge that his death is a gateway to eternal life. This raises the question of how Donne reconciles his pain with his belief in resurrection, using metaphors like geographical straits to signify both struggle and the passage to a divine destination. His joy stems from the idea that death is not an end but a beginning, a spiritual transformation into eternity.
- What is the significance of Donne’s use of cartographic metaphors to describe death?
- Donne’s use of cartography and navigation metaphors in describing his approaching death highlights his intellectual engagement with the unknown aspects of mortality. In stanza two, he writes, “Cosmographers, and I their map, who lie / Flat on this bed” (lines 6-7), suggesting that his body, like a map, is being charted by his physicians as they observe his illness. His death becomes a “south-west discovery” (line 9), likening the experience of dying to a journey of exploration. This metaphor raises questions about how Donne views the human body and soul in the context of both earthly and divine geography, blurring the lines between the physical and spiritual realms.
- How does Donne use the concept of time and space to reflect on death and resurrection?
- Donne plays with the concepts of time and space to reflect on the interconnectedness of death and resurrection. In stanza three, he writes, “As west and east / In all flat maps (and I am one) are one” (lines 13-14), suggesting that in the metaphysical sense, opposites like life and death, or west and east, converge. This leads to the question of how Donne’s understanding of time and geography informs his view of the afterlife. His references to “west” as a symbol of death and “east” as resurrection challenge the linearity of time, proposing a cyclical understanding of life, death, and rebirth, where one leads inevitably to the other.
- What role does religious imagery play in Donne’s perception of his own death?
- Religious imagery is central to Donne’s perception of his impending death, particularly through references to Christ’s crucifixion and the salvation it brings. In stanza five, Donne compares the “first Adam” and “last Adam,” associating his physical body with the Fall of Man and his soul with Christ’s redemption (lines 27-30). The question arises of how these religious allusions shape Donne’s view of his illness and death. By invoking Christ’s suffering—”As the first Adam’s sweat surrounds my face” (line 29)—he frames his physical pain as part of a larger divine plan, where his suffering mirrors Christ’s and leads to the ultimate reward of salvation.
Literary Works Similar to “Hymn to God, My God, in My Sickness” by John Donne
1. “Death Be Not Proud” by John Donne: Similarity: Both poems explore the theme of mortality and the speaker’s relationship with death.
2. “Holy Sonnets” by John Donne: Similarity: Donne’s “Holy Sonnets” also delve into themes of sin, repentance, and the relationship with God, similar to “Hymn to God, My God, in My Sickness.”
3. “The Divine Comedy” by Dante Alighieri: Similarity: Both works explore the journey of the soul towards the divine, with Dante’s epic poem following a similar spiritual path.
4. “Paradise Lost” by John Milton: Similarity: Both poems grapple with themes of sin, redemption, and the nature of good and evil, offering philosophical reflections on the human condition.
5. “The Book of Job”: Similarity: The Book of Job, a biblical text, shares with Donne’s poem the theme of suffering and the search for meaning in the face of adversity.
Suggested Readings: “Hymn to God, My God, in My Sickness” by John Donne
- Primary Source:
- Donne, John. “Hymn to God, My God, in My Sickness.” Poems. 1633. https://www.wikihow.com/Tell-the-Edition-of-a-Book
- Secondary Sources:
- REID, DAVID S. “The Reflexive Turn in Early Seventeenth-Century Poetry.” English Literary Renaissance, vol. 32, no. 3, 2002, pp. 408–25. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/24463639. Accessed 14 Sept. 2024.
- Rauber, D. F. “Some ‘Metaphysical’ Aspects of the Homeric Simile.” The Classical Journal, vol. 65, no. 3, 1969, pp. 97–103. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/3296252 Accessed 14 Sept. 2024.
- Perrine, Laurence. “Explicating Donne: ‘The Apparition’ and ‘The Flea.’” College Literature, vol. 17, no. 1, 1990, pp. 1–20. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/25111839 Accessed 14 Sept. 2024.
- Online Resources:
- SparkNotes. “Hymn to God, My God, in My Sickness.” https://www.sparknotes.com/
Representative Quotations of “Hymn to God, My God, in My Sickness” by John Donne
| Quotation | Context | Theoretical Perspective |
| “Since I am coming to that holy room, / Where, with thy choir of saints for evermore, I shall be made thy music” | The speaker reflects on his impending death, imagining it as entering heaven, where he will join the saints in eternal harmony. | Religious/Christian Symbolism: Death is depicted as a sacred transition to a spiritual afterlife where the soul becomes part of God’s eternal choir. |
| “I tune the instrument here at the door, / And what I must do then, think here before.” | Donne uses a metaphor of tuning an instrument to suggest that he is spiritually preparing for death and his afterlife. | Metaphysical Poetry and Conceit: The metaphor of tuning the instrument serves as an extended conceit for the preparation of the soul for divine unity. |
| “Cosmographers, and I their map, who lie / Flat on this bed” | Donne describes his physicians as cartographers mapping his body, portraying his illness as a journey to be navigated. | Metaphysical Poetry: The conceit of the body as a map represents the speaker’s physical state, as his illness is charted by doctors in their efforts to save him. |
| “That this is my south-west discovery, / Per fretum febris, by these straits to die” | Donne compares his death to a geographical discovery, as if his illness were a voyage through dangerous straits. | Exploration/Colonial Metaphor: This metaphor draws on themes of discovery and navigation, aligning his death with the unknown, suggesting that dying is an uncharted journey. |
| “I joy, that in these straits I see my west; / For, though their currents yield return to none” | Donne expresses joy in seeing the west, which symbolizes death, knowing that it leads to eternal life. | Christian Eschatology: The west as a metaphor for death ties into Christian belief in resurrection, where physical death gives way to spiritual renewal. |
| “As west and east / In all flat maps (and I am one) are one” | The speaker observes that, in flat maps, the east and west are united, symbolizing the merging of death and resurrection. | Spatial Metaphor: This geographical metaphor suggests that death and life are interconnected, reflecting a cyclical view of existence rather than a linear progression. |
| “Is the Pacific Sea my home? Or are / The eastern riches? Is Jerusalem?” | Donne questions which geographical location symbolizes his spiritual destination, contemplating whether he will be received into heaven (Jerusalem). | Religious Geography: The mention of Jerusalem and geographical straits represents his journey toward eternal salvation, reflecting the convergence of spiritual and worldly maps. |
| “We think that Paradise and Calvary, / Christ’s cross, and Adam’s tree, stood in one place” | Donne reflects on the Christian idea that both the Fall of Adam and Christ’s crucifixion happened in the same location, representing sin and redemption. | Theological Perspective: This reflection on the unity of sin and redemption reveals a complex understanding of Christian history, where Christ’s sacrifice redeems original sin. |
| “As the first Adam’s sweat surrounds my face, / May the last Adam’s blood my soul embrace” | Donne contrasts Adam’s original sin (sweat) with Christ’s redeeming blood, asking for salvation as he contemplates his death. | Original Sin and Redemption: The contrast between Adam and Christ reflects the speaker’s hope for salvation through Christ’s atonement, despite the original sin of humanity. |
| “Therefore that he may raise, the Lord throws down.” | Donne concludes with a reflection on how suffering (being “thrown down”) is necessary for resurrection and divine salvation. | Christian Theology: This line encapsulates the Christian belief in redemption through suffering, where the fall (death) is necessary for resurrection and eternal life. |