Holy Sonnet 2 - John Donne
/Holy Sonnet 2 - John Donne/
A Soul’s Struggle Between Despair and Divine Mercy
Original (English): As due by many titles I resigne
English: As due by many titles I resigne
Original (English): My selfe to thee, O God, first I was made
English: My selfe to thee, O God, first I was made
Original (English): By thee, and for thee, and when I was decay'd
English: By thee, and for thee, and when I was decay'd
Original (English): Thy blood bought that, the which before was thine;
English: Thy blood bought that, the which before was thine;
Original (English): I am thy sonne, made with thy selfe to shine,
English: I am thy sonne, made with thy selfe to shine,
Original (English): Thy servant, whose paines thou hast still repaid,
English: Thy servant, whose paines thou hast still repaid,
Original (English): Thy sheepe, thine image, and (till I betray'd
English: Thy sheepe, thine image, and (till I betray'd
Original (English): My selfe) a temple of thy Spirit divine;
English: My selfe) a temple of thy Spirit divine;
Original (English): Why doth the devill then usurpe on mee?
English: Why doth the devill then usurpe on mee?
Original (English): Why doth he steale, nay ravish that's thy right?
English: Why doth he steale, nay ravish that's thy right?
Original (English): Except thou rise and for thine owne worke fight,
English: Except thou rise and for thine owne worke fight,
Original (English): Oh I shall soone despaire, when I doe see
English: Oh I shall soone despaire, when I doe see
Original (English): That thou lov'st mankind well, yet wilt not chuse me,
English: That thou lov'st mankind well, yet wilt not chuse me,
Original (English): And Satan hates mee, yet is loth to lose me.
English: And Satan hates mee, yet is loth to lose me.
In “Holy Sonnet 2,” John Donne presents a speaker who acknowledges the many ways in which he belongs to God—as child, servant, and precious creation—yet laments how easily Satan seems to claim ownership. Donne uses an array of religious images to clarify the speaker’s predicament: God formed him, saved him through Christ’s sacrifice, and designed him to shine with divine radiance. Despite this exalted origin, the speaker recognizes that evil forces still threaten his salvation.
Within these lines, Donne introduces a profound tension between God’s overarching love for humanity and the speaker’s fear of being personally overlooked in that boundless mercy. Feeling torn, the speaker urges God to “rise and for thine own work fight,” underlining his dependence on divine intervention. If God does not intervene, despair looms; the speaker imagines a terrible fate caught between Satan’s hatred and God’s apparent silence.
True to Donne’s metaphysical style, the sonnet pairs intimate emotional appeals with cosmic implications, equating the soul’s salvation to a battle of celestial forces. By invoking Christ’s blood as the ransom for humankind, Donne reminds readers that salvation is already purchased, yet remains contested until fully embraced by the believer. The final couplet hammers home the paradox that even though God loves humanity, individuals can feel tragically uncertain about their personal standing. Meanwhile, Satan, who despises humans, remains “loth to lose” any soul he can entangle. Ultimately, Donne underscores the urgency of relying on divine grace to break the devil’s hold and secure the soul’s rightful place in God’s realm.
Key points
1) Despite belonging wholly to God, human souls can feel torn by temptation. 2) Donne emphasizes the crucial need for divine intervention against evil. 3) Christ’s redemptive act is universal, yet individuals sometimes struggle with personal assurance of salvation. 4) Spiritual battles often involve both cosmic forces and deep internal fears.
