Length: 754 words (2.7 pages)
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Religious Renewal and Sexual Masochism in "Batter my heart, three person'd God"       

 

In Donne's Holy Sonnet, "Batter my heart, three person'd God," themes of religious renewal and sexual masochism are abundant. While religious renewal is clearly the front-most, and most clearly defined meaning of the poem, the poet's choice of words and subtle analogies leave the poem wide open for speculation in sexual meaning.

That John Donne was a preacher, the fire and brimstone, evangelical ringings of religious renewal in this poem are well founded. A man's soul, invaded by Satan's sin, must be purged by whatever means necessary by God's force. Donne associates his corrupted soul with that of an "usurp'd towne," invaded by an enemy (Satan), but "to'another due," (the Trinity). He asks God to break the impurity by force and to beat his soul clean and into repentance. While this all makes sense on the first level, there are many dualities, and sexual undertones present in the poem.

 

Several words in the poem contain multiple meanings, further promoting the mingling of the sacred and profane throughout the poem. Particularly towards the end of the poem, these words help to justify what the reader might have guessed at earlier in the poem. 'Enthrall,' for example, used in the sense of something God does to the poet, can mean 'to hold or capture, enslave', (having a negative connotation) or 'to hold spellbound by pleasing qualities' (having a positive connotation). This makes unclear, or at least arguable, Donne's attitudes toward the emotions involved in being taken by God, as well as the possibility of pleasure found in a sexual act being described. Another, 'betroth'd,' usually means 'to engage (frequently a woman) in the contract of marriage.' A second meaning, however, is the 'creation of the relationship between God and his church or people.' The irony lies in the word's use in the poem: "and would be lov'd faine, / But am betroth'd unto your enemy," indicating that the poet's soul is married to Satan, while simultaneously twisting the second meaning of the word.

 

Several instances in the poem seem to indicate that the poet, or speaker, is a woman. Perhaps Donne means to relate that how God might treat a man who has betrayed him, is similar to how a man might treat his wife if she was unfaithful. Another possible analogy is that God's physical power (or analogous spiritual power) over man is similar to man's power over women. The phrase, "Labour to admit you," brings about sexual connotations, but (barring sodomy) would only be possible if the poet/speaker were a woman. That the poet is "betroth'd unto" Satan, hints at the common meaning of the word, as a woman is betrothed unto her husband. Again, the word "ravish" is defined as 'to commit rape upon a woman.' If the poem is read for sexual connotations, it is notable that many of the 'sexual' acts (mostly by God to the poet) are acts that would usually (especially in the 17th century) be done by the man to the woman. The man would usually divorce the wife, the man would betroth the woman, ravish her, be admitted by her, and defend her.

 

The sexual undertones in this poem are blatant and masochistic. Most of the words used as actions of God to the poet (batter, o'erthrow, bend, force, breake, blowe, burn, etc.) describe violent acts, as well as acts of love and renewal. This mixing of violence and love, religion and sex, creates an intensity and tension in the poem. "Batter my heart, three person'd God," indicates a ganging up on and beating of the poet by God. "O'erthrow mee,'and bend / Your force to breake, blowe, burn and make me new," while again implying that the poet is a woman (God having to bend his force-phallic reference-to break the woman, an expression used in the taking of a woman's virginity), indicates an act of sexual violence. "Untie, or breake that knot againe" paints a picture of bondage, as does "imprison mee" and "enthrall mee." The last line, "Nor ever chast, except you ravish mee" implies the rape of the virgin, having chastity no more after being ravished, or raped.

 

Either way you look at this poem, in the religious or sexual sense, it is powerful and controlling. Donne intertwines sexual connotations with religious renewal and the ridding of sins from the body. He has made sure not to support either reading too fully, leaving both open to speculation.