The birthdate of John Donne could not be determined due to lack of authentic material. The scholars place the date somewhere between January 24, 1572 to June 19, 1572. It was a precarious time, as the anti-Catholic sentiment was widely spreading in England. His father, John Donne Sr was an ironmonger from a prosperous Roman Catholic family. In 1576, John Donne Sr suddenly died and left behind three children to be raised by Elizabeth, his wife.
Donne started his educational career through Jesuits. At the age of 11, Donne along with his younger brother Henry entered Hart Hall, University of Oxford. Here he found one of his life long friendship - he met Henry Wotton. After studying at Hart Hall for three years, Donne entered the University of Cambridge.
Donne was not able to take degree from either of the Universities as he could not take the Oath of Supremacy required at graduation. But he enriched himself with the well-stocked libraries and read Greene, Marlowe, Nashe and others with deep interests. These scholars and writers were his predecessors at Cambridge. Donne's embarkment upon a legal or diplomatic career seemed obvious as he was admitted to study law as a member at Lincoln's Inn in May 1592. It was the same period when he started giving expression to his thoughts and produced some work in prose and poetry. His work of this particular period reflect John's upsurges of sexual desires, almost to the brink of labeled erotic.
It was a difficult time for a catholic to live in Elizabethan England. In 1593, Donne's brother Henry died of plague in prison. The reason for his arrest was that he gave shelter to a Catholic priest who was forbidden by law. The above event had a devastating effect on Donne and it shook the very roots of his faith. Donne's most important literary efforts were during this time and he came out with his first book of poems Satires. The book was not immediately published. It went through a private circulation in the form of the manuscripts to the readers and became a favorite among them. Next in line were the love poems Songs and Sonnets, which were equally famous.
Young Donne being a child of aristocracy inherited a considerable fortune. Donne started spending money on womanizing, buying books, at the theatre, and on travels. He struck friendship with Christopher Brooke, a poet and colleague of his at Lincoln's Inn, and Ben Johnson, who was part of Christopher's literary circle.
In 1596, Donne became a volunteer on the Essex expeditions to Cadiz and to the Azores the following year. Donne wrote The Calm during the Azores expedition. When Donne returned to England, he caught the attention of Sir Thomas Egerton, The Lord Keeper of the Great Seal who made him his secretary from November 1597 to 1601. With this Donne embarked on a promising career.
He became a Member of Parliament for Brackley in Northamptonshire and was also given grant by the crown for some land in Lincolnshire, and this entitled him to call himself a 'esquire'.
Donne fell in love with Ann More, the daughter of Sir George More. He met her at Sir Egerton's place as lady Egerton was Ann's aunt. Though Donne was under patronage of Sir Egerton, he dared to love and marry his wife's niece. In 1601, he secretly married her. Marriage might have been of great importance for Donne in sentimental terms, but it was certainly a disaster, in terms of extinguishing all hopes of a promising career, for which he had been preparing.
Probably his sentiments for Ann erred his judgment or may be his ego led him to feel confident of overcoming any disaster resulting from the alliance. The reluctant father-in-law, Sir George's complaints to Sir Thomas Egerton, destroyed Donne's carefully nurtured position quickly and, in a sense, permanently. Most problematic fact about this marriage was that Ann was a minor and marrying a minor without parental consent was not only a specific offence against the canon law but also a grave breach of the social code. Sir George was successful in having Donne briefly imprisoned and having sacked his secretary-ship by convincing Egerton. Sir George's refusal to dowry and making no settlement on Ann increased the financial difficulties in the early years of the marriage.
The next 15 years were one of failure, illness and frustration for Donne. The marriage, however, was a success of some kind as he kept in touch with many successful people. But companionship on Ann gave him the spiritual height that was reflected in his work of this period. During these years Ann gave birth to their children - Constance in 1603, John in 1604, George in 1605, Francis in 1606, Lucy in 1608, Bridget in 1609, and Mary in 1611. Their son Nicholas was born in 1613, but he died soon. Year 1614 also brought disaster to the family as they lost Mary and Francis within a short period. Year 1615 brought a ray of hope in form of Margaret.
Donne was able to travel with people like Sir Walter Chute and Sir Robert Drury. He also received an honorary MA from Oxford in 1610. Nevertheless his position throughout this period was weak in terms of expectations he had in 1601. Further, the marriage was not only doomed his secular career but the responsibilities, which followed, made his material condition consistently fragile. Donne fathered almost annually between 1601 and 1613 and that too without permanent employment and no regular income from any particular source, except a small help from his father-in-law from 1606 onwards. After the marriage Donne and Ann initially started living apart but with the kind help of Francis Wolley they first stationed at Pyrford and then in a small damp house at Mitcham. Their living condition then improved through his connections with Sir Robert Drury and they moved to Drury lane. Donne also stayed at Strand from 1607 to 1611.
Donne's life during this period was one of stagnation and inaction of which he was very much aware. He knew very well that without Egerton's help, he would not be able to resume the secretary-ship "To seek preferment here with any but your Lordship were a madness. Every great man to whom I shall address any such suite, will silently daaispute the case, and say, would my Lordkeeper so disgraciously have imprisoned him, and flung him away, if he had not alone some other great fault, of which we hear not."
Egerton did not agree and Donne was convinced that for a few years his opportunities in or around the court had effectively decimated. Donne summed up his condition as "John Donne, Anne Donne, Undone." At this stage Donne was not mentally prepared to enter the Church and was also reluctant to go abroad. The only thing left with Donne was the continental journeys with Chute and Drury, which helped him a little bit to earn his livelihood.
The journeys relieved Donne from domesticity and he became optimistic about his future career. Donne was certainly fighting back the earlier blows.
The years 1613 and 1614 were active years for Donne as he sought secular posts which included his second period as a Member of Parliament (Taunton, 1614). Also one could easily see Donne contemplating his move, towards religious path from a secular one. Donne started extensive reading in theology to resist the pull of passivity, or may be he was prepared for later emergence unconsciously. His study of law was just recreational and not vocational and left not an iota of evidence of his practicing law anywhere. Donne determined to move towards theology, willing to make practical use of his reading. This reading in theology, undoubtedly, suited him for his eventual career in the Church of England.
Thus, the period between 1601 to 161s5 was a frustrating attempt to solve his post marriage problems.The January of 1615 saw the dawn of the most public phase of Donne's life. Perhaps he was now adopting his most clearly defined role. If one traces Donne's past life it seems that he was always aware of an audience. His new role of a priest was more related to the public function like preaching, taking services and living a high standard life, in addition to the adherence to the doctrines of Anglican Church. Thus, his new role was his choice and not the one he had charted for himself.
King James played a major part in Donne's ordination, as he was the one who gave a positive denial to all requests, for secular advancement for Donne but at the same time said. "I know Mr. Donne is a learned man, has the abilities of a learned Divine; and will prove a powerful preacher, and my desire is to prefer him that way, and in that way, I will deny you nothing for him." Walton a critic, said on Donne's new role - "Now, the English Church had gained a second St. Austine, for, I think, none was so like him before his conversion : Donne so like St. Ambrose after it and if his youth had the infirmities of the one, his age had the excellencies of the other, the learning and holiness of both." Thus, his conversion was more from youth to age. Donne himself referred his ordination as involving "such a change, as if my unworthiness did not avail it, were an addition." Walton recorded this decisive moment in Donne's life saying he had "by the order of our churche, receyved a new character."
After the ordination, James showered favors on Donne, though not all of those were directly attributable to the king. Donne became rector of Keystone and Sevenoabs, and Reader in Divinity at Lincoln's Inn.
James then favored Donne's appointment as a royal Chaplain soon after ordination. He also helped him to get the degree of Doctor of Divinity granted by the University.
Further, James recommended Donne to University and the vice-chancellor introducing him as the author of the book Pseudo Martyr and proposed it to the University. University excepted Donne with gladness. Bald, a critic, offered evidence of a recalcitrant University succumbing to pressure from the king. Donne's preaching at court in April 1616 was another royal favor on Donne.
Soon after the ordination Donne started contemplating on his main lines.
He took up seriously the duties of a rector and preaching which took place in his rectories, both Inns of court, king's court and also the great public event of preaching at Paul's Cross. Preaching as well as other duties of clerical office (after Donne became Dean of St. Paul's in November 1621) continued for the rest of his life.
The last quarter of Donne's life saw the loss of family and friends as well. His wife who died in 1617, after giving birth to a stillborn child, at the age of 33, as she was "worn out by child bearing while still scarcely past her youth." Remaining twelve times in childbed was not an easy job even if the husband is devoted to the wife. Bald mentioned "The personality of (Donne's) wife inevitably remains elusive for his mercurial temperament". Their daughter Lucy also died in 1626.
In 1628, Christopher Brooke one of his oldest friends died. Buckingham, one of those great men who helped potentially during his struggle, got assassinated. Donne also saw the death of his mother, who inspite of her continued Catholicism, had been living with Donne.
Donne's letter to his mother, after the death of her daughter, was the perfect indication of love and respect for both mother and ecumenicist. Nevertheless, we have enough reason to quote last period of Donne's life as most satisfying. Some also called these years as active years of John Donne. The ordination certainly founded a new Dr. Donne who was able to work efficiently and confidently, inspite of problems like his ailments, the problems of looking after children as a single parent and the shock of the death of friends, relatives and patrons.
His mother died on January 28, 1631. John Donne survived her for two months. He died in office on March 31, preaching almost till the very end. He was buried on April 3 in St Paul's. However the secular dimensions of his life did not come to an end with his death.
John Donne was an English poet, essayists and sermonist. He was educated at Oxford and Cambridge and also studied law in London. Donne had a very bright future, but his secret marriage proved disastrous in relation to the prospects he had been preparing himself for. He was a born Catholic who later joined the established Church. His life can be divided into three phases. The first, of passion and cynicism, the second--baffled attempts to solve the problems created out of his marriage and the third one, 'conversion' symbolized by ordination, where he found future Dr Donne, able to function efficiently and confidently.
John Donne's individuality has been heavily stressed in the 20th century. Both, his poetry and prose are rarely seen in purely aesthetic terms, products of a difficult life lived at a difficult time. He was termed metaphysical poet by Samuel Johnson saying "metaphysical poets were men of learning, and to show learning was their whole endeavor.
1572 - Born in London.
1584 - Admitted to Hertford College, Oxford.
1588 - Shifted to Cambridge.
1592 - Admitted to Lincoln's Inn.
1596 - Took part in an expedition to Cadiz.
1597 - Donne took part again in expedition to Azores.
1601 - Donne becomes a Member of Parliament for Backley, Northampton. Secretly married the niece of Egerton, Anne More.
1602 - Marriage to Anne made public.
1603 - Donne's daughter, Constance born.
1604 - Donne's son, John born.
1605 - Traveled to France and Italy. Third child George born.
1606 - Donne moved to Mitcham.
1607 - Donne took lodging in Strand, London. Fourth child Francis born.
1608 - Donne's fifth child Lucy born.
1609 - Donne's sixth child Bridget born.
1611 - Donne's seventh child Mary born.
1612 - Donne's two Anniversaries were published. Eighth child stillborn.
1613 - Donne's ninth child Nicholas born but died within a year. Elegy of Prince Henry published.
1614 - Became a Member of Parliament for Taunton.
1615 - Ordained deacon and priest at St. Paul's Cathedral. Tenth child Margaret born.
1616 - Chosen Divine Reader of Lincoln's Inn. Eleventh child Elizabeth born.
1617 - Delivered his first sermon at St. Paul's Cross, Twelfth child born. Wife Anne died.
1619 - Joined the embassy to Germany.
1621 - Donne appointed Dean of St. Paul.
1622 - Sermons published.
1623 - Donne seriously ill.
1624 - Donne's Devotions upon Emergent Oceanons published.
1627 - Donne's daughter Lucy died.
1630 - Donne seriously ill.
1631 - Death of Donne's mother on January 28. John Donne died on March 31.
Donne created new forms of lyric, satire, elegy and religious verse. His independence of views, compact manner of expression, encompassing conflicting moods, impassioned paradox, outbreaks of cynicism and wry humor make his work particularly appealing to the 20th century mind. His poetry reflects every stage of his evolution, from the piratical Jack Donne who sailed with Raleigh against the Spaniards, spent boisterous nights in London streets, to the penitent John Donne who became Dean of St Paul's and the most celebrated preachers of his age.
Donne's early writings included paradoxes, the verse satires, most elegies, some verse epistles, some lyric, a few prose letters and The Progress of the Soul.
The basic audience was within the Inns of court and the Inns of Chancery, constituting a sizeable community of around 1700 men - the largest single group of literate and cultured men in London. The emphasis was on self-conscious modernism. The most favored poetic modes were verse satire and epigram.
Elegies
His elegies pose problems concerning their canon, their numbering and therefore their sequence, and their titles. Donne's love poetry reaches new heights in the elegies. Donne in these poems achieved apotheosis as the lines reveal the importance of the flesh in the union of souls.
Fond woman, which would'st have thy husband die,
And yet complain'st of his great jealousie;
(Form Elegie I.)
Epithalamions
It consists of four poems, (1) a marriage song, for Princess Elizabeth's marriage (2) an Ecclogue and (3) marriage song for the Earl of Somerset's marriage and (4) Epithalamion made at Lincolnes Inne', attributed to his student days there .
Haile Bishop Valentine, whose day this is
All the Aire is thy Diocis
And all the chirping choristers,
And other birds are thy Parishioners,
Thou marryest every yeare.
Satires
Donne's satires reflect roughness in both subject and expression. Donne's has the satirist's dislike of the contemporary as seen at the beginning of satire - 1.
Away thou fondling motley humorist,
Leave me, and in this standing wooden chest,
Consorted with these few books, let me lie.
Letters to Several Personages
Donne's verse letters may be regarded as axiomatic. The art of epistle in verse as well as in prose is formidably extensive. Probably they are the least read of Donne's poems and the only interest in the poem is the reflection of his condition in those years.
The Anniversaries
The two Anniversaries and A Funeral Elegy are the most substantial poetic contribution by Donne to be published during his lifetime. They were not only his most ambitious poems but most controversial too. The subject of these poems is Elizabeth Drury, who died at an early age, whom Donne had never met.
Wel dy'de the world
that we might live to see this world of wit,
In his Anatomee :
No evil wants his good :
Divine Poems
Donne's Divine Poems can be said as the high level of the Elegies.
Thou hast made me, And shall thy worke decay ?
Repair me now mine end doth haste,
I runne to death, and death meets me as fast,
And all my pleasures are like yesterday,……….
On Death
¨ Death be not proud, though some have called thee Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so. For, those, whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow. Die not, poor death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
On Doubt
¨ Despair is the damp of hell, as joy is the serenity of heaven.
On Love
¨ Love, all alike, no season knows, nor clime, nor hours, days, months, which are the rags of time.
¨ Only our love hath no decay; this, no tomorrow hath, nor yesterday, running it never runs from us away, but truly keeps his first, last, everlasting day.
¨ I am two fools, I know, for loving, and for saying so in whining poetry.
On Suffering
¨ Affliction is a treasure, and scarce any man hath enough of it.
General
¨ No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a part of a continent, a part of the main;
¨ Who are a little wise the best fools be.
¨ God employs several translators; some pieces are translated by age, some by sickness, some by war, some by justice.
¨ When I must shipwrack, I would do it in a sea, where mine impotencie might have some excuse; not in a sullen weedy lake, where I could not have so much as exercise for my swimming.
¨ When one man dies, one chapter is not torn out of the book, but translated into a better language.
