Concetti Chiave
- John Donne, born in 1572, was a 17th-century Londoner with a rich cultural background, educated in the Roman Catholic faith amidst religious persecution.
- Despite leaving Oxford without a degree due to his refusal to take the oath of supremacy, Donne pursued law and was well-versed in philosophy and theology.
- Known for his dandy and scholarly traits, Donne sought a diplomatic career, participating in naval expeditions and eventually becoming secretary to the lord keeper of the Great Seal.
- His secret marriage to Ann More in 1601 led to imprisonment and career setbacks, yet his love for her remained a cornerstone of his life.
- Donne's career evolved from poetry to religious works, gaining fame as a preacher with works like "Pseudo-Martyr" and "Devotions upon Emergent Occasions," particularly after his wife's death in 1617.
John Donne's early life
One of the most intriguing personalities of the 17th century, John Donne was born in London in 1572. His father was a prosperous merchant; his mother was the daughter of the playwright John Heywood. He was educated in the Roman Catholic faith, and soon learned what it meant to be a Catholic in England in that peiod: his maternal uncles died in exile because they were Jesuits; his younger brother was imprisoned for sheltering a priest, and died in jail at the age of 19.
He himself had to leave Oxford without a degree because he refused to take the oath of supremacy.
Love and consequences
In He seemed to be destined to a splendid career, when there was a tunning point in his life. He fell passionately in love with Ann More, the young niece of the lord keeper’s wife, and in 1601 secretly married her without her guardian’s consent. As a result, he was imprisoned and, when released, he lost his position. The following years saw him fighting with poverty, illness and discomfort. He had to depend on charity keep a family costantly growing – Ann bore him twelve children, only seven of whom survived – but in spite of the hardships the passionate and costant love for his wife was always the reference point of Donne’s life.
Donne's literary achievements
There is no certainty about the composition of his finest poems, the This work reveals another aspect of 1617 marked another crucial moment in his life: his Donne’s intellectual vigour, wide and wit made him a magnificient, impressive preacher; the best society assembled to hear his splendid sermons, only a few which, however, were printed during his life. The only other work that he published in this last period was Devotions upon Emergent Occasions, in prose (1624).
Domande da interrogazione
- ¿Cuál fue el impacto de la educación católica en la vida de John Donne?
- ¿Cómo afectó el matrimonio secreto de Donne con Ann More a su carrera?
- ¿Qué temas predominan en las obras poéticas de Donne después de su matrimonio?
- ¿Cómo influyó la muerte de su esposa en la obra de Donne?
- ¿Qué papel desempeñó Donne en la Iglesia de Inglaterra y cómo fue reconocido por ello?
La educación católica de Donne tuvo un impacto significativo, ya que experimentó las dificultades de ser católico en Inglaterra, como la muerte de sus tíos en el exilio y el encarcelamiento de su hermano menor.
El matrimonio secreto de Donne con Ann More resultó en su encarcelamiento y la pérdida de su posición, lo que lo llevó a enfrentar años de pobreza y dificultades.
Después de su matrimonio, las obras poéticas de Donne, como los Songs and Sonnets, celebran el cumplimiento feliz del amor.
La muerte de su esposa fue un golpe tremendo para Donne, lo que se reflejó en sus Holy Sonnets, donde expresó sus sentimientos sobre el pecado, la muerte y el juicio.
Bajo la presión de James I, Donne tomó órdenes en 1615 y se convirtió en un predicador impresionante, reconocido por su vigor intelectual y elocuencia en sus sermones.
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