Metaphysics Now and Now

Metaphysical is the label for the poetic tradition of the seventeenth century, the work of poets writing under the influence of John Donne. These poets were educated men with intellectual experiences, their interest in new discoveries, philosophies, concepts and the increase in foreign travel prompted this highly imaginative style, a product of the historical and cultural situation of the 1590's. Characteristic of their poetry is the use of intricate mental concepts of wit and learning, and a style rather than a universal subject matter is employed to justify a perceived likeness between different things. Most of the poems contain arresting imagery, which forces the mind to work, rather than those 'that appeal to the senses or evoke an emotional response through memory' (Bennett, 1964, p.5).

The idea of metaphysical conceit is prevalent amongst the poetry, a metaphor which strikes the reader at first as being highly inappropriate and un-obvious, which then needs to be established intellectually by proving the comparison. So successful reading of metaphysical poetry necessitates a temporary separation of feeling from intelligence. This has led to criticism of be metaphysical style, for being inventive purely for its own sake, merely to flatter the intellect of the author, rather than to produce an effective poem. Similarly, the genre seems to have its faults in that it is needlessly obscure, restrained by the intellectual imagery therefore failing to communicate the spontaneous emotion of the poet.

However, the use of intellect does give a certain refinement or respectability, intensifying the meaning of the poem, thereby producing and making possible an even greater sense of emotion through highly complex and intellectual theories. Intellect and emotion are nearly always viewed as separate entities, one concerned with strong instinctive or spontaneous feeling, sensation or passion, the other being the faculty of reasoning, knowing and thinking, quite opposite...