Metaphysical elements in The Definition of Love by Andrew Marvel

Critical analysis of The Definition of Love: Metaphysical elements in The Definition of Love

‘The Definition of Love’ is probably the foremost truly metaphysical poem of Marvell having some similarity with Donne in using metaphysical conceit and theme. Andrew Marvell talks about the nature of love, which exists between the poet and his beloved. The poet regards this love as being perfect and therefore unattainable. Common metaphysical elements are an elaboration of similes and metaphors, extended poetic conceits and paradoxes, colloquial speech, and an interest in exploring the interplay between the physical and spiritual world.

                     

At the very opening of the poem, the speaker expresses the characteristics and origin of his love. His love features a strange and high object and “was begotten by despair upon impossibility”, that is, his supreme or divine love is born of the union of despair and impossibility of physical union. Only determined despair can show him such a spiritual love while hope has no contribution to his love. As the speaker says-

“My love is of a birth as rare

As ’tis for object strange and high;

It was begotten by Despair

Upon Impossibility.”

Yet he might reach his destination, his extended soul. But ‘Fate’ always prevents him from being united sort of a carpenter drives iron wedges into a log of wood so as to separate it into two parts. Her ‘Decrees of Steel’ have placed them because the ‘distant Poles’ thus fate is their ‘Tyrannick’ enemy.

Besides, the poet thinks that only “magnanimous” or resolute despair could produce such a noble feeling as love in him. In his case, the feelings of love proved to be weak. Here the poet uses a simile of a bird with gaudy but feeble wings to compare it with his hope of love. His heart tried to promise him fulfillment but its effort proved to be futile. So the poet thinks his love could never have been fulfilled. As we find-

“Magnanimous Despair alone

Could show me so divine a thing

Where feeble Hope could ne’er have flown,

But vainly flapp’d its tinsel wing.”

Then the speaker, as in ‘To His Coy Mistress’, tells that their union would be possible if three impossible conditions are fulfilled – first if the ‘Giddy Heaven fall’, if a ‘new Convulsion’ destroy the early and if the world turns into a ‘Planisphere’.

 

‘But’, as in the case of ‘To His Coy Mistress’, their union is not possible, because their motion is ‘parallel’ not ‘oblique’ and there is no possibility of union, though these are infinite.

‘Therefore’ the conclusion is that though love is a bond between them, it'll not be fulfilled, because ‘Fate with jealous Eye does see’ at them. Their situation is ‘Conjunction of the mind’ but ‘Opposition of the Stars’. That is, they are spiritually united but physically separated. As the narrator narrates-

“But Fate does iron wedges drive,

And always crowds itself betwixt.”

Now, if we compare the poem with ‘To His Coy Mistress’ we notice some similarities and a few dissimilarities at an equivalent time. From a thematic aspect, it is opposite to the previous one. Because the former urges the beloved to be physically united. But the latter affirms that their physical union is completely impossible.

Like the previous one, fate has an inevitable role during this poem. She does not allow ‘two perfects love’ to be united, because their union would ruin her tyrannical power.

“For Fate with jealous eye does see

Two perfect loves, nor lets them close;

Their union would her ruin be,

And her tyrannic pow’r depose.”

The poem, being a superb Metaphysical poem, draws a variety of images and Metaphysical conceits. They are drowned from different sources of knowledge and provide a display of knowledge. A first, their love is ‘begotten by Despair upon impossibility.’ Here the abstract idea is expressed sort of a concrete thing. The three conditions are excellent examples of this kind of conceit. Comparing their position, to the parallel lines actually draws our attention and displays knowledge.

Thus we see that ‘To His Coy Mistress’ is extremely passionate in tone but The Definition of affection is completely pessimistic.

In conclusion, it can be said that the poem ‘The Definition of Love’ is perhaps the most truly metaphysical poem of Andrew Marvell having some similarity with Donne in using metaphysical conceit and theme. He talks about the nature of love, which exists between the poet and his beloved. The poet regards this love as being perfect and therefore unattainable. Common metaphysical elements are discussed above. 

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