the flea

the flea

The Flea, By John Donne
The Flea was written in 1633 by John Donne not as a love poem like many of its time but rather an elaborate metaphysical plea to his potential mistress. The speaker suggests to his mistress that sex is insignificant, harmless and sinless as a tiny flea bite.   Whereas the societal norm is of course the institute of marriage.

Donne begins his persuasion so simply “Mark but this flea, and mark in this/ How little that which thou deny’st me is” Making the situation very clear from the beginning that he has no intent to woo her. In addition relating his intent to the bite of a flea he is trying to amplify the insignificance he feels towards the situation or at least the insignificance that he would like her to feel. Continuing with “It sucked me first and now sucks thee,/ And in this flea our two bloods mingled be;” he persists the triviality of the act that he is implying. In their “blood” already being shared he is saying that the deed has already been done by the flea so it would be inconsequential for them to follow through. “Thou know’st that this cannot be said/ A sin, nor shame, nor loss of maidenhead”, in this Donne is already prepared for her contradictions simply posing that their bed has already been laid in front of them as their flesh has been shared by the tiny flea. He is using this simple ploy to attempt to reel her in, almost insulting her in the matter. However, he is cunning in his use of subtle humor to try and relieve her fears of disappointing her family and her community. Still he pleas, “Yet this enjoys before it woo,” attempting to further dissolve her views and seduce her. The speaker has clearly thought this through, spinning a delicate and intricate web to draw her in.

Now that he feels he has drawn her in he continues with simple phrases that he hopes would appeal to her sensibility in the matter.”Oh stay three lives in one flea spare” he says, pleading with her not to kill their...