Revised Poem Essay :)

The poems “A valediction” by John Donne and “Conjoined” by Judith Minty revolve around the different perspectives of love, and the nature of relationships. The authors employ the use of metaphors, similes, and symbolism to express their opposing viewpoints. Judith Minty believes marriage is an unnatural thing, and along with the extremely close bond comes a draining, hindering component. John Donne shows love to be a purely unbreakable bond compared to a celestial connection, the highest of all relationships.

Minty utilizes metaphors to show the twisted, awkward relationship of marriage and the struggle that comes along with it. She compares marriage to, “An accident, like the two-headed calf-rooted in one body, fighting to suck at its mother’s teats.” This line creates a vivid image in the reader’s mind. The idea of a two-headed calf is an accident, something that is not belonging to our world. The calf is also fighting to suck at its mother’s teats; this shows the pain and suffering the author believes a marriage to be. Also, like a true marriage, you are not supposed to get a divorce and separate from each other. Marriage is supposed to be a permanent relationship, one you cannot escape from; just as the two heads of the calves cannot be separated. In addition, Minty uses another effective simile saying marriage is, “like those other freaks, Chang and Eng, twins joined at the chest by skin and muscle, doomed to live, even make love, together for sixty years.” Marriage is conveyed to be a freak of nature, and the obvious pessimistic outlook shows the belief that marriage is just a setup for failure. What is worse is the idea that they must “even make love” together. Making love is supposed to be an intimate and emotional act between two people, the strongest display of affection. Minty includes this to show that marriage is not an intimate connection that is needed to grow closer to a person, but rather a hindrance and eventually a burden.

In addition, Minty uses the symbol of an unusual onion to convey her point about marriage. She writes, “The onion in my cupboard, a monster; actually two joined under one transparent skin: each half-round, then flat and deformed where it pressed and grew against the other.” Again, Minty has an opposing view to Donne, she sees love and relationships to be a “monster” and uncontrollable trouble that is not meant to be. It is a transparent skin because although on the outside they are combined as one by the title of marriage, where it is evident by through problems unhappy both sides are.


On the other hand, John Donne uses a metaphor to explain the incomprehensible beauty and power of love. He writes, “as virtuous men pass mildly away, and whisper to their souls to go, whilst some of their sad friends do say, the breath goes now, and some say, no.” Donne is actually comparing the connection of love to something that can never be forgotten. Although the person you love may not be with you physically, love in a relationship is so strong that it can endure through time in hearts and minds. The author clearly shows his belief that love is a strong bond that is meant to withstand the test of time. Also, Donne say, “So let us melt, and make no noise, no tear-floods, nor sigh-tempests move, twere profanation of our joys to tell the laity of our love.” The couple is so close they become one and melt together. Although they are still separate physically they are no longer separate emotionally. He goes on to say that the love between the couple is so pure and perfect that it is above the religious influence of the laity. As the poem continues Donne goes on to the point of comparing love to a perfect, celestial relationship. He says, “Trepidation of the spheres, though greater far, is innocent. Dull sublunary lovers’ love cannot admit absence because it doth remove those things which elemented it”. He says love is so powerful that it is able to make the heavens tremble. The use of these metaphors express the view that love is not a dull, common thing; but instead, a special work of art that is longed for.

Finally, Donne uses similes to complete his views on relationships and love. In Donne’s poem he compares the two lovers to gold, “Our two souls therefore, which are one, though I must go, endure not yet a breach, but an expansion like gold to airy thinness beat.” Donne views a loving relationship as pure gold that is flexible and malleable. When gold is pulled apart it does not break right away but instead becomes thinner and thinner.

Both authors utilize figurative language to express their different views on relationships and love. Donne believes marriage to be a special connection, a spiritual-like bond between two people that everyone longs for. To the contrary, Minty sees marriage to be a painful process, inescapable and unnatural.