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

  Religious Renewal and Sexual Masochism in Batter my heart, three persond paragon          In Donnes Holy Sonnet, Batter my heart, three persond God, themes of religious renewal and versed masochism are abundant. While religious renewal is clearly the front-most, and most clearly defined meaning of the poem, the poets choice of words and subtle analogies leave the poem blanket(a) 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 mans soul, invaded by Satans sin, must be purged by whatever means necessary by Gods force. Donne associates his corrupted soul with that of an usurpd towne, invaded by an enemy (Satan), but toanother 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 umteen dualities, and sexual unde rtones present in the poem.   Several words in the poem contain multiple meanings, further promoting the mingling of the sacred and profane throughout the poem. specially 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, apply in the sense of something God does to the poet, provoke 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, Donnes attitudes toward the emotions involved in being taken by God, as well as the possibility of pleasure found in a sexual numeral being described. Another, betrothd, usua... ... beating of the poet by God. Oerthrow 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 womans 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, provided 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 some(prenominal) open to speculation.