Analysis of John Donne's 'The Flea' and Related Poems: Essay

This essay analyzes the themes of longing and lost love in John Donne's 'The Flea,' Ben Jonson's 'My first daughter, on my first son,' and Mary Wroth's Sonnets 16 and 77. The essay explores how these poems portray the desire for lost connections and the passage of time. The analysis delves into the poets' use of imagery and language to convey these emotions, including the intimate encounter of the flea, the farewell to a son, and the reflection on youth and aging. The essay also discusses the context and significance of each poem, drawing on critical interpretations and the poets' personal experiences. The work cited includes the poems and critical references used to support the analysis. The essay focuses on the emotional and thematic content of the poems, providing a close reading of the selected texts.

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Essay Analysis
In John Donne’s ‘The Flea,’ the theme of longing for lost loved ones is present. He
discusses the intimate contact of the flea with the woman and says that it has caused her no harm
hence a physical encounter with the poet should also not lead to any harm. The lover suggests
that he is in charge and it is a matter of when the woman will yield to his demands (Donne 60).
In Ben Johnson’s ‘My first daughter, on my first son,’ the theme of looking for a long
lost love is portrayed. The author begins with a good-bye, as the speaker is saying farewell to his
son who was seven years old. He blames himself for this loss. The author loved his son and the
emptiness makes him feel like he could look for him and find him (Johnson 130). He therefore
promises himself that he will not like the things that he loves with all his heart.
Mary Wroth’s Sonnet 16 and 77 also depict the theme of looking for a long lost loved
one. Sonnet 77 speaks about the youth’s aging face, which is reflected in a mirror and passage of
time shown through a watch. As much as the man wishes for his youth, he cannot get it back but
the notebook he is given will record his beauty while he was young. Sonnet 16 is arguing on
why the youth should marry (Roberts 43). When one get’s old, looking for their youth is looking
for a long lost love that they cannot find.

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Works Cited
Donne, John. John Donne: The Major Works. Oxford University Press, USA, 2000.
JONSON’S, COMPLETE WRITINGS. "Ben Jonson." (1985).
Roberts, Josephine A., ed. The Poems of Lady Mary Wroth. LSU Press, 1992.