Confined Love by John Donne (Poem, Summary, Paraphrase, Analysis & Questions)

 

Confined Love

by John Donne

(Poem, Summary, Paraphrase, Analysis & Questions) 

Confined Love

Some man unworthy to be possessor

Of old or new love, himself being false or weak,

Thought his pain and shame would be lesser

If on womankind he might his anger wreak,

And thence a law did grow,

One might but one man know;

But are other creatures so?

 

Are sun, moon, or stars by law forbidden

To smile where they list, or lend away their light?

Are birds divorced or are they chidden

If they leave their mate, or lie abroad a night?

Beasts do no jointures lose

Though they new lovers choose;

But we are made worse than those.

 

Whoe'er rigged fair ship to lie in harbors

And not to seek new lands, or not to deal with all?

Or built fair houses, set trees, and arbours,

Only to lock up, or else let them fall?

Good is not good, unless

A thousand it possess,

But doth waste with greediness.

 

Summary

Stanza 1 Summary:

The speaker begins by referring to a man who was unworthy of love—someone false or weak. This man, in an attempt to lessen his own pain and shame from failed or unfaithful love, decided to blame all women. From this selfish reasoning, a societal rule or custom was born: that a woman should only love one man. The speaker then questions whether this standard applies to any other beings or things in nature.

 

Stanza 2 Summary:

The speaker continues with rhetorical questions, comparing human love laws to the natural world. He points out that celestial bodies—like the sun, moon, and stars—are not bound by rules that restrict them from shining where they please. Birds are not punished or scolded if they spend a night away from their mates. Animals do not suffer any penalties or lose anything if they change partners. Yet, humans are subjected to stricter rules in love, suggesting they are treated more harshly than animals.

 

Stanza 3 Summary:

In the final stanza, the speaker offers further examples to illustrate the foolishness of confined love. He asks who would build a beautiful ship only to keep it docked in the harbor, rather than exploring new lands. Or who would build houses, plant trees, and grow arbors only to lock them up or let them decay? He concludes that a good thing (such as love or beauty) isn't truly good unless it is shared widely. If it is hoarded or confined to only one, it becomes wasted through greed.

 

Line-by-line Paraphrase

Stanza 1

1. Some man unworthy to be possessor

Some man who didn’t deserve to have love—past or present—

 

2. Of old or new love, himself being false or weak,

Because he was dishonest or emotionally weak himself,

 

3. Thought his pain and shame would be lesser

Believed his own emotional pain and embarrassment would feel less

 

4. If on womankind he might his anger wreak,

If he could take out his anger on all women,

 

5. And thence a law did grow,

And so, from this, a rule or custom developed,

 

6. One might but one man know;

That a woman should only love one man,

 

7. But are other creatures so?

But do other beings in nature live like that?

 

Stanza 2

8. Are sun, moon, or stars by law forbidden

Are the sun, moon, or stars restricted by rules

 

9. To smile where they list, or lend away their light?

From shining wherever they want or sharing their light?

 

10. Are birds divorced or are they chidden

Are birds ever divorced or scolded

 

11. If they leave their mate, or lie abroad a night?

If they leave their partners or spend a night elsewhere?

 

12. Beasts do no jointures lose

Animals don’t lose property or rights (like humans do in divorce)

 

13. Though they new lovers choose;

Even if they take on new mates;

 

14. But we are made worse than those.

But humans are treated more harshly than animals in matters of love.

 

Stanza 3

15. Whoe'er rigged fair ship to lie in harbors

Who would build a fine ship just to keep it docked in port

 

16. And not to seek new lands, or not to deal with all?

And not to explore new places or do trade everywhere?

 

17. Or built fair houses, set trees, and arbours,

Or who would build beautiful houses, plant trees and gardens,

 

18. Only to lock up, or else let them fall?

Just to keep them locked away or let them decay unused?

 

19. Good is not good, unless

A good thing isn’t truly good, unless

 

20. A thousand it possess,

It can be shared with many people;

 

21. But doth waste with greediness.

Otherwise, it becomes ruined by selfishness.

 

Analysis in Detail

“Confined Love” is a metaphysical poem where Donne challenges societal expectations around romantic exclusivity. Through a mix of wit, rhetorical questions, and natural imagery, he criticizes the idea that love must be limited to one person. He contends that love, like the sun or birds, should be free and unrestricted, and that confining it diminishes its value.

 

Theme 1: Critique of Social Conventions in Love

Donne opens by attacking a moral code that restricts love to a single partner. He blames this "law" on a man who, out of personal weakness and shame, generalizes his own failure onto all women. Donne suggests that the rule of monogamy isn't divine or natural but a man-made structure born from insecurity.

This theme is bold and provocative, especially for Donne’s time. He does not accept the common moral standards as universal truths. Instead, he encourages us to question who benefits from such confinements—often the insecure or possessive.

 

Theme 2: Nature as a Model for Love

Donne turns to nature to reinforce his argument. The sun, moon, and stars do not shine only in one place. Birds are not punished for changing mates. Even beasts are not bound by contracts or legal jointures. By comparing human love to the freedom seen in the natural world, Donne suggests that love should be spontaneous and unhindered, just as the movements of celestial bodies or animals are.

This argument appeals to reason and observation—if the entire universe operates freely, why should human love be confined?

 

Theme 3: The Wastefulness of Greedy Possession

In the final stanza, Donne uses the metaphor of ships and houses to expose the futility of owning something beautiful only to lock it away. He implies that love, like wealth or beauty, deteriorates when it is hoarded. It must be shared to be truly meaningful.

This moves the discussion from a critique of jealousy to a philosophical stance: goodness multiplies in giving, but dies in greed. The idea is almost paradoxical—keeping love confined doesn’t protect it; it ruins it.

 

Tone and Voice

The tone is clever, critical, and slightly rebellious. Donne’s speaker adopts a confident, questioning tone throughout, using logic to dismantle widely accepted romantic norms. He doesn’t plea emotionally but reasons with rhetorical sharpness. His voice is that of a confident challenger of hypocrisy—asking why humanity imposes rules on love when even animals don’t.

This assertive tone is enhanced by the poem’s rhetorical strategy. Donne doesn’t state his points didactically; he makes the reader rethink assumptions through comparisons, questions, and examples.

 

Poetic Devices:

Rhetorical Questions:

Almost every stanza is filled with rhetorical questions, such as:

“Are sun, moon, or stars by law forbidden / To smile where they list…?”

These prompt reflection and subtly mock the artificiality of romantic restrictions.

 

Metaphysical Conceits:

Donne uses extended metaphors—like comparing love to ships, houses, and celestial bodies—to show that love, like them, should not be static or confined.

 

Alliteration and Sound Patterns:

Phrases like “rigged fair ship to lie in harbors” and “good is not good” create musicality and reinforce his arguments through memorable soundplay.

 

Irony and Subversion:

There's an underlying irony: while love is commonly viewed as sacred and personal, Donne argues that it becomes meaningless when made exclusive. He flips the traditional reverence for monogamy on its head.

 

Structure and Form:

The poem consists of three stanzas of seven lines each, using a regular rhyme scheme: ABABCCC. The balanced structure supports the controlled reasoning of the speaker’s argument. The final triplet (CCC) in each stanza lands like a punchline—concise, emphatic, and conclusive.

Each stanza builds on the previous one:

The first introduces the origin of the “law” of confined love.

The second uses nature to refute it.

The third offers a practical, metaphorical rejection of confinement in favor of generosity and openness.

 

Conclusion:

John Donne’s “Confined Love” is not merely a poem about romantic relationships—it is a philosophical questioning of ownership, freedom, and societal control over human emotion. With his characteristic metaphysical flair, Donne brings logic, wit, and nature into the realm of love, presenting a compelling argument for emotional liberty.

While controversial in its implication (especially in the context of Christian and Elizabethan morality), the poem also reflects Donne’s broader metaphysical interest in paradox, contradiction, and the nature of truth.

 

Possible Exam Questions     

Who, according to the poem, is responsible for the origin of the "law" that one should only love one person?

 

What examples from nature does Donne use to argue against the confinement of love?

 

What is the tone of the poem “Confined Love”?

 

What do the "sun, moon, or stars" symbolize in the poem?

 

What is meant by the line: “Good is not good, unless / A thousand it possess”?

 

Discuss how John Donne challenges traditional ideas of monogamous love in Confined Love. Use references from the poem to support your answer.

 

Examine the use of nature imagery in Confined Love and explain how it supports Donne’s central argument.

 

Explore how Donne uses rhetorical questions and metaphors in Confined Love to convey his message.

 

In what ways does Confined Love reflect the characteristics of metaphysical poetry? Illustrate your points with examples from the poem.

 

Do you think Confined Love promotes a realistic view of love? Justify your opinion based on the poet’s arguments.

 

Read the following lines and answer the questions below:

"Are sun, moon, or stars by law forbidden

To smile where they list, or lend away their light?"

a. What is the speaker trying to suggest through these lines?

b. How does this comparison relate to the central theme of the poem?

 

Read the following lines and answer the questions below:

"Good is not good, unless

A thousand it possess,

But doth waste with greediness."

a. What does Donne mean by “Good is not good”?

b. What idea of love is Donne presenting here?

 

If Confined Love were written today, how might its message be received in the context of modern relationships?

 

Compare Donne’s view of love in Confined Love with another poem or literary work you’ve studied.

 

Do you agree with Donne's view that "confined" love is a product of weakness and societal construction? Why or why not?