Away thou fondling motley humorist by John Donne (Poem, Summary, Paraphrase, Analysis & Questions)

 

Away thou fondling motley humorist

by John Donne

(Poem, Summary, Paraphrase, Analysis & Questions) 

Away thou fondling motley humorist

Away thou fondling motley humorist,

Leave off thy tricks, and fool no more so much:

That for a hare, or face thou hast not kiss’d,

Since thou wert born, to sigh, alas, and such;

To cry, the beloved prince is dead.

Oh, where?

Wither? which way? how found you out he was dead?

It is not for a soldier to shed tears

In such a case: be like a soldier bred.

Never go home again; for if thou do,

The very boys will hang thee up in jest,

Who did but lately mock thee for thy woe

That neither lost a lover, nor a guest.

 

Summary

The speaker addresses someone who is acting overly emotional or dramatic. This person is described as a “fondling motley humorist”—a foolish and inconsistent individual, perhaps clownish in behavior.

The speaker tells this person to stop pretending and being foolish, especially about grief or loss. The person seems to be sighing or lamenting as if they have experienced a great sorrow — perhaps over a romantic loss (“for a hare, or face thou hast not kiss’d”) or the death of a public figure (“to cry, the beloved prince is dead”).

However, the speaker points out the insincerity in this behavior. The one being addressed hasn't even kissed the person they’re supposedly grieving for, nor had any real connection to the prince who died.

The speaker questions their reaction — asking how they even know about the prince's death, and rebukes them for shedding tears as though they were a soldier, which implies bravery and emotional restraint are expected.

Then, the speaker mockingly warns the person not to return home, because if they do, even young boys will make fun of them. These same boys had already mocked them earlier, knowing that this person’s grief is fake — since they neither lost a lover nor a guest (no personal loss at all).

 

Line-by-line Paraphrase

Original:

Away thou fondling motley humorist,

Paraphrase:

Go away, you silly, mixed-up fool.

 

Leave off thy tricks, and fool no more so much:

Stop your silly performances and don’t act foolish anymore.

 

That for a hare, or face thou hast not kiss’d,

You're sighing and acting sad over someone — maybe a woman or a prince — whom you never even touched or kissed.

 

Since thou wert born, to sigh, alas, and such;

You’ve been pretending to grieve dramatically your whole life — sighing and saying “Alas” and so on.

 

To cry, the beloved prince is dead.

You're crying out loud, “The beloved prince has died.”

 

Oh, where? Wither? which way? how found you out he was dead?

But really — where did this happen? Which way did he go? How did you even find out he was dead?

 

It is not for a soldier to shed tears

A real soldier isn’t supposed to cry like that.

 

In such a case: be like a soldier bred.

You should behave like someone raised to be a brave soldier.

 

Never go home again; for if thou do,

Don’t ever go back home, because if you do—

 

The very boys will hang thee up in jest,

Even the boys in the street will mock you and hang you up as a joke.

 

Who did but lately mock thee for thy woe

These same boys already made fun of you for your fake sorrow—

 

That neither lost a lover, nor a guest.

Even though you hadn’t really lost anyone — not a lover, not even a houseguest.

 

Analysis in Detail

John Donne’s poem “Away thou fondling motley humorist” is a sharp and satirical address to someone who is putting on a show of grief — perhaps in a public or performative way — when they have no real emotional reason to do so. The speaker, with biting wit, critiques this person’s false display of mourning, especially in response to the death of a prince. The poem is part of Donne’s body of satires, which often mocked hypocrisy, affectation, and pretense in society.

The tone of the poem is mocking, impatient, and disdainful. From the very first line — “Away thou fondling motley humorist” — the speaker brushes the person aside with contempt. The use of words like “fondling”, “motley”, and “humorist” evokes the image of a fool or court jester, someone not to be taken seriously. This image sets the mood: the speaker believes the person is ridiculous and deserves ridicule for pretending to grieve.

Throughout the poem, the speaker questions the legitimacy of the person’s emotional outburst. He accuses them of sighing and crying as though they lost someone they were deeply connected to, but reveals that they never even kissed or had any personal contact with the one they mourn — whether it be a lover (“face thou hast not kiss’d”) or the prince whose death is being lamented. The grief is described as secondhand, artificial, and performative.

The speaker challenges the sincerity of their sorrow with sarcastic questions: “Oh, where? Wither? which way? how found you out he was dead?” These rhetorical questions do not seek answers — rather, they expose the superficiality of the mourner’s reaction. The speaker implies the person is mourning for show, perhaps trying to seem deep or loyal when in fact they have no true relationship with the deceased.

The line “It is not for a soldier to shed tears” introduces a contrast — the speaker invokes the ideal of stoicism and bravery. A soldier, someone trained in discipline and courage, does not cry needlessly. By suggesting that this person should “be like a soldier bred,” the speaker emphasizes self-control, emotional strength, and authenticity. The implication is that fake grief is unmanly, childish, and undignified.

In the final section of the poem, the speaker warns the mourner not to return home because even the young boys will mock them for such behavior. These boys already laughed at their earlier display of grief — which had no basis in a real loss (“That neither lost a lover, nor a guest”). This ending delivers a final blow to the person’s image: not only is their grief fake, but it’s so transparently fake that even children can see through it.

Thematically, the poem critiques hypocrisy, emotional inauthenticity, and social performance. Donne mocks those who exaggerate or invent emotional responses to appear virtuous, sensitive, or fashionable. His satire exposes the gap between what people display and what they truly feel. In a time when public mourning and shows of loyalty were often politicized or expected, Donne’s poem stands as a challenge to hollow custom and emotional dishonesty.

Stylistically, the poem blends the seriousness of moral critique with humor and sarcasm. Donne uses plain yet pointed language, rhetorical questions, and direct address to confront the reader or imagined subject. The rhythm is conversational, which makes the attack feel more personal and immediate.

In conclusion, “Away thou fondling motley humorist” is a short but powerful satire that exposes the absurdity of false mourning. Through its vivid language and clever tone, it urges readers to be authentic in their emotions and not use grief as a means to impress or deceive. Donne, as always, combines wit with wisdom, turning social criticism into poetic art.

 

Possible Exam Questions

Who is the speaker addressing in the poem “Away thou fondling motley humorist”?

 

What kind of behavior does the speaker criticize in the poem?

 

What is meant by the phrase “face thou hast not kiss’d”?

 

What does the speaker imply about shedding tears “in such a case”?

 

Why does the speaker mention “the very boys will hang thee up in jest”?

 

How does the speaker contrast a soldier’s conduct with the addressed person’s behavior?

 

What tone does the speaker use throughout the poem?

 

Discuss how John Donne uses satire in “Away thou fondling motley humorist” to criticize false emotional displays.

 

Explain the speaker’s attitude toward public mourning in the poem. What does this reveal about societal expectations?

 

Analyze how Donne uses imagery and rhetorical questions to mock the subject of the poem.

 

“Never go home again…” — Examine the significance of this line in the context of the poem’s ending.

 

How does Donne contrast genuine and fake sorrow in the poem? Support your answer with textual references.

 

Do you think the poem reflects a broader critique of society or just one individual? Justify your response.

 

In today’s world of social media, how might Donne’s poem be relevant when people publicly express grief online?

 

Can the poem be read as a commentary on masculinity and emotional restraint? Why or why not?

 

What role does humor play in this poem, and how does it affect the seriousness of the message?

 

If the poem were addressed to a modern audience, how might the language or targets of critique change?