“Song: Go and Catch a Falling Star” by John Donne: A Critical Analysis

Go and catch a falling star,

    Get with child a mandrake root,

Tell me where all past years are,

    Or who cleft the devil’s foot,

Teach me to hear mermaids singing,

Or to keep off envy’s stinging,

            And find

            What wind

Serves to advance an honest mind.

If thou be’st born to strange sights,

    Things invisible to see,

Ride ten thousand days and nights,

    Till age snow white hairs on thee,

Thou, when thou return’st, wilt tell me,

All strange wonders that befell thee,

            And swear,

            No where

Lives a woman true, and fair.

If thou find’st one, let me know,

    Such a pilgrimage were sweet;

Yet do not, I would not go,

    Though at next door we might meet;

Though she were true, when you met her,

And last, till you write your letter,

            Yet she

            Will be

False, ere I come, to two, or three.

1. The Impossibility of Perfection: The poem highlights the unattainability of certain ideals, particularly truth and perfection, whether in the natural world or human behavior. The opening lines, “Go and catch a falling star, / Get with child a mandrake root,” introduce absurd and impossible tasks, using them as metaphors for the futile search for perfection. These examples frame the central argument of the poem: just as it is impossible to achieve these feats, so too is it impossible to find a woman who is both “true and fair.” This theme critiques humanity’s tendency to idealize and search for perfection, only to be met with disillusionment.

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2. Cynicism about Love and Fidelity: The poem’s speaker adopts a deeply skeptical tone toward the idea of romantic loyalty, claiming that no woman can remain faithful and beautiful simultaneously. This is explicitly stated in the refrain, “No where / Lives a woman true, and fair.” By emphasizing that even if one were to travel “ten thousand days and nights,” they would find no such person, the speaker reinforces his belief that fidelity is fleeting and unreliable. The tone of the poem, particularly in the final stanza, grows even more cynical as the speaker asserts that even if such a woman existed, “Yet she / Will be / False, ere I come, to two, or three.” This theme critiques human relationships and challenges societal ideals of romantic love.

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3. Human Obsession with the Unattainable: Donne explores humanity’s tendency to pursue impossible goals, only to be frustrated by their inherent unattainability. This theme is evident in the repeated imagery of fantastical tasks, such as “Teach me to hear mermaids singing” and “Tell me where all past years are.” These pursuits represent humanity’s constant striving for answers to existential questions and the need for meaning in the seemingly impossible. The speaker’s resignation to the impossibility of these quests suggests a deeper reflection on human limitations and the futility of some pursuits.

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4. Skepticism Toward Human Nature: Underlying the poem is a broader skepticism about the reliability and constancy of human nature. While the speaker’s critique focuses on women, the poem can be read as a general commentary on human imperfection and inconsistency. Lines such as “Though she were true, when you met her, / And last, till you write your letter” suggest that even fleeting moments of virtue are undermined by human fallibility. By weaving skepticism into every stanza, Donne presents a view of humanity that is both critical and reflective, inviting readers to question their own expectations and ideals.

1. What does the speaker’s cynicism reveal about the nature of human relationships?

The speaker’s profound cynicism throughout the poem offers a bleak perspective on human relationships, particularly romantic love and fidelity. His repeated assertion that “No where / Lives a woman true, and fair” highlights a deep skepticism about the possibility of genuine virtue or loyalty in women. This distrust is not simply based on individual experience but is framed as an inevitable truth, supported by the hypothetical impossibility of finding a “true and fair” woman. The poem presents love as a fleeting and unreliable experience, marked by betrayal and disappointment, as evidenced in the final lines: “Yet she / Will be / False, ere I come, to two, or three.” This cynicism reflects the speaker’s disillusionment with human nature, portraying relationships as inherently flawed and untrustworthy.

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2. Why does the speaker challenge the pursuit of unattainable goals in the poem?

The poem opens with a series of impossible tasks—”Go and catch a falling star” and “Get with child a mandrake root”—which frame the central theme of unattainable goals. These hyperbolic challenges emphasize the absurdity of pursuing things that are inherently out of reach, mirroring the speaker’s belief that certain ideals, such as true love or perfect virtue, are equally unattainable. By placing these impossible goals at the center of the poem, the speaker critiques human aspirations, particularly the pursuit of unattainable ideals in romantic relationships. The rhetorical question “Tell me where all past years are” further deepens the existential exploration, pointing out that even the passage of time cannot be undone or grasped. Through these paradoxical requests, the poem underscores the futility of certain desires, suggesting that humanity often strives for the unattainable and ultimately finds dissatisfaction.

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3. What is the significance of the recurring theme of “truth” in the poem?

Truth is central to the poem, particularly the notion of truth in women. The speaker asserts that no woman can ever be both “true” and “fair,” reflecting a pessimistic view of women’s ability to maintain both fidelity and beauty simultaneously. This theme of truth is not just limited to romantic relationships but extends to a broader commentary on the nature of human integrity. The line “No where / Lives a woman true, and fair” directly challenges the possibility of discovering genuine, unblemished virtue in the world. The poem questions the concept of truth in human relationships and raises doubts about whether any human being can embody idealized qualities in the way society expects. By framing truth as an elusive quality, Donne critiques not just love, but the very nature of human integrity, suggesting that truth is always compromised or subject to betrayal.

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4. How does the poem engage with the theme of time and its fleeting nature?

Time plays a subtle yet significant role in the poem, particularly in the way it impacts human experiences and relationships. The lines “Ride ten thousand days and nights, / Till age snow white hairs on thee” emphasize the long, arduous journey one would need to undertake to discover an ideal woman—a journey that spans a lifetime, only to end in the realization of its futility. The speaker muses on the passage of time and its inevitable effects, such as aging, but this reflection is tempered by his belief that even a lifetime of searching will not yield an answer. The rhetorical question “Tell me where all past years are” further suggests the irretrievability of time, highlighting its elusive and fleeting nature. Through these references, Donne reflects on the ephemeral quality of life, love, and human pursuits, underscoring how time, once gone, cannot be recaptured, and how human efforts to find perfection or truth are ultimately thwarted by its passage.