John Donne The Melancholic

John Donne was the mosl outstanding of the English Metaphysical Poets. He is also a complex poet and man. The fascinating hut seemingly contradictory facts of Donne's life have generated a variety of criticism.Life had never been easy for John Donne. Donne was never quite comfortable with his change of religion. Donne's poems reflect his religious conflict. The Holy Sonnets, composed during this time in Donne's life are a reflection of his struggle. To make things worse, after his marriage with Anne More, all chances of a career at court vanished; the mere making of a living seemed more than he could manage. Donne. dependent on charity, sank into an abysmal depression. He thought of suicide. He often had, as he confessed in Biathanatos "a sickly inclination" for it.The thesis consists of three chapters, picturing Donne's melancholy pose.Chapter One explores the source of Donne's obsessive thoughts of sin. This exploration develops in two aspects: one is around the anxiety and sufferings caused by his apostasy in his early career. Donne \v;is never to escape the feeling that he had betrayed his faith; the other focuses on the Calvinistic influence on Donne.Chapter Two highlights Donne's introspective and seemingly conflicting thoughts on the theme of death. Some of his poems depict death as insignificant while others present it as something he, and therefore humans, should fear. This view, according to the thesis, evolves from his life experience and his understanding of Bible.Chapter Three interprets the suicidal note revealed in his BiathanatosThe interpretation proceeds in two angles of view. The former part is mainly inspired by Donne's biographical implications, while the latter part emphasizes on the theological source of Donne's suicidal incline.My Conclusion reveals John Donne's obsession with sin. death and suicidal tract, therefore it is safe to conclude that he is a melancholy poet.