Religious Renewal and Sexual Masochism in Batter my heart, three person

  Religious Renewal and Sexual Masochism in Batter my heart, cardinal persond God          In Donnes Holy Sonnet, Batter my heart, three persond God, themes of religious substitute and sexual masochism are abundant. While religious renewal is clearly the front- most(prenominal), and most clearly defined meaning of the metrical composition, the poets choice of words and subtle analogies relegate the poem wide return for speculation in sexual meaning. That posterior Donne was a preacher, the fire and brimstone, evangelical ringings of religious renewal in this poem are well founded. A mans soul, invaded by Satans sin, must be purged by whatever means necessary by Gods military unit. Donne associates his corrupted soul with that of an usurpd towne, invaded by an enemy (Satan), but toa nonher 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 champion on the first level, there are many dualities, and sexual undertones perplex in the poem.   Several words in the poem contain quintuple meanings, further promoting the mingling of the sacred and profane throughout the poem. Particularly towards the suppress 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, hatful mean to generate 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, Donnes attitudes toward the emotions involved in being taken by God, as well as the possibility of pleasure found in a sexual stand for being described. Another, betrothd, usua... ... beating of the poet by God. Oerthrow mee,and contort / 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-ph allic reference-to break the woman, an expression used in the taking of a womans virginity), indicates an act of sexual violence. Untie, or breake that knot againe paints a picture of bondage, as does immure mee and enthrall mee. The last line, Nor ever chast, except you ravish mee implies the rape of the virgin, having rightness no more after being ravished, or raped.   Either government agency you look at this poem, in the religious or sexual sense, it is goodish 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.