The Apparition by John Donne (Poem, Summary, Paraphrase, Analysis & Questions)

 

The Apparition

by John Donne

(Poem, Summary, Paraphrase, Analysis & Questions) 

The Apparition

When by thy scorn, O murd'ress, I am dead

And that thou think’st thee free

From all solicitation from me,

Then shall my ghost come to thy bed,

And thee, feigned vestal, in worse arms shall see;

Then thy sick taper will begin to wink,

And he, whose thou art then, being tired before,

Will, if thou stir or pinch to wake him, think

Thou call’st for more,

And in false sleep will from thee shrink,

And then, poor aspen wretch, neglected thou

Bath’d in a cold quicksilver sweat wilt lie

A verier ghost than I.

 

What I will say I will not tell thee now,

Lest that preserve thee; and since my love is spent,

I'had rather thou shouldst painfully repent,

Than by my threat’nings rest still innocent.

 

Summary

Lines 1–3:

The speaker imagines a future in which he has died because of the cruel rejection (“scorn”) of his lover, whom he now calls a "murderess." He says that when she thinks she is finally free from his love and attention—no longer being pursued or bothered by him—

 

Lines 4–5:

—his ghost will return to haunt her in her bedroom. He says he will appear to her as a ghost when she is in bed with another man. He sarcastically refers to her as a “feigned vestal,” implying that she falsely portrays herself as pure or virginal, but will be caught in an intimate situation with someone else.

 

Lines 6–10:

When the ghost appears, the candle (“taper”) in her room will flicker as if it’s sick or dying—an eerie sign of the ghost’s presence. The man lying with her at that time, already tired and disinterested, will misinterpret her fear (if she stirs or pinches him awake) as a signal that she wants more attention or intimacy. However, pretending to sleep (“in false sleep”), he will move away from her, avoiding her completely.

 

Lines 11–13:

The speaker says she will be left trembling like an “aspen” tree (known for its shaking leaves), a pitiful and neglected figure. She will be drenched in a cold sweat like mercury (“quicksilver”), out of fear and horror. In that moment, she will look more ghost-like than he does.

 

Lines 14–17:

The speaker says he won’t tell her exactly what he plans to say or do when he appears as a ghost. Revealing it now might help her prepare or protect herself. Since his love for her has died, he would rather see her suffer with guilt and fear after his death than allow her to remain comfortable and “innocent” just because of his warnings.

 

Line-by-line Paraphrase

1. When by thy scorn, O murd'ress, I am dead

When your rejection kills me, you cruel woman,

 

2. And that thou think’st thee free

And you believe you’re finally free from me,

 

3. From all solicitation from me,

Free from any begging or attention-seeking from my side,

 

4. Then shall my ghost come to thy bed,

That’s when my ghost will visit you in your bedroom,

 

5. And thee, feigned vestal, in worse arms shall see;

And you, pretending to be pure like a virgin, will be lying in another man’s arms,

 

6. Then thy sick taper will begin to wink,

Then your candle will flicker and grow dim,

 

7. And he, whose thou art then, being tired before,

And the man you’re with, already tired,

 

8. Will, if thou stir or pinch to wake him, think

If you try to wake him up by moving or pinching him,

 

9. Thou call’st for more,

He’ll think you’re asking for more intimacy,

 

10. And in false sleep will from thee shrink,

But he’ll pretend to be asleep and move away from you,

 

11. And then, poor aspen wretch, neglected thou

Then you, poor trembling woman, abandoned and helpless,

 

12. Bath’d in a cold quicksilver sweat wilt lie

Will lie there sweating with fear like cold liquid mercury,

 

13. A verier ghost than I.

Looking even more ghostly than my ghost.

 

14. What I will say I will not tell thee now,

I won’t tell you now what I plan to say when I appear,

 

15. Lest that preserve thee; and since my love is spent,

Because telling you might help you protect yourself—and since I no longer love you,

 

16. I'had rather thou shouldst painfully repent,

I would rather you suffer in guilt and regret,

 

17. Than by my threat’nings rest still innocent.

Than remain comfortable just because I warned you in advance.

 

Analysis in Detail

“The Apparition” is a dark and vengeful poem by John Donne, spoken by a man addressing a woman who rejected him. The speaker imagines returning as a ghost after death to haunt her when she is most vulnerable—lying in bed with another lover. Unlike Donne's love poems that celebrate spiritual or mutual affection, this one showcases bitterness, jealousy, and emotional torment, wrapped in the language of horror and irony.

 

Tone and Mood:

The tone is bitter, sarcastic, and menacing. The speaker is not just sad; he is angry and seeks revenge, not in physical form, but through emotional and psychological torment after death. The mood shifts from eerie and supernatural to pitiful and ironic as the speaker describes the woman’s eventual suffering.

 

Speaker’s Attitude Toward the Woman:

The speaker calls the woman a "murderess" for emotionally killing him through rejection. His language suggests that her indifference or betrayal has destroyed him completely. His tone reveals wounded pride, scorned love, and a desire for posthumous revenge. He attacks her morality by sarcastically calling her a "feigned vestal," accusing her of pretending to be virtuous while being unfaithful.

 

Themes:

Revenge in Love:

The dominant theme is revenge. The speaker imagines gaining power over his former lover not through life or love but through fear and guilt after his death.

 

Emotional Haunting:

Though the poem refers to a ghost, it is metaphorical as well—the idea of how a person’s memory, guilt, or conscience can haunt another long after separation.

 

False Virtue and Hypocrisy:

The woman is accused of pretending to be virtuous while being sexually involved with another man. The poem challenges the contrast between outer purity and inner behavior.

 

Neglect and Loneliness:

The speaker forecasts the woman’s future loneliness and emotional isolation—abandoned by her lover, fearful and guilt-ridden, becoming a ghostly version of herself.

 

Imagery and Symbols:

Ghost & Apparition:

The ghost symbolizes not only the supernatural but also lingering emotional consequences. The speaker becomes a symbol of unresolved love and torment.

 

Taper (Candle):

The candle flickering symbolizes the presence of the supernatural and the disruption of peace or security. It also hints at the fragility of life and stability.

 

Cold Quicksilver Sweat:

This unusual image represents the woman’s physical reaction to fear, evoking the feeling of being haunted. Mercury (quicksilver) is cold, metallic, and associated with alchemy and mystery, enhancing the eerie tone.

 

Aspen Tree:

Known for its trembling leaves, the “aspen” symbolizes the woman’s shaking and vulnerability, making her appear even more ghost-like than the actual ghost.

 

Dramatic Structure and Voice:

The poem is like a miniature monologue or dramatic speech. It has an imagined future setting and plays out like a scene from a ghost story. Donne uses the first-person voice to give the poem a personal and confrontational quality, as though the speaker is addressing the woman face-to-face.

 

Style and Literary Devices:

Conceit (Extended Metaphor):

The central conceit is the speaker returning as a ghost to torment his lover. Donne stretches this metaphor to imagine detailed consequences.

Irony:

The speaker’s description of the woman as a "feigned vestal" is ironic. He mocks her false purity. There is also irony in the fact that he becomes the ghost, yet says she will look more like one.

Enjambment and Meter:

The poem uses irregular meter and enjambment (lines running over) to convey the speaker’s emotional agitation and unfiltered outpouring of revengeful imagination.

 

Conclusion:

“The Apparition” is a haunting, vengeful love poem where John Donne blends the macabre with the emotional, imagining how rejected love might find its voice beyond the grave. It explores the destructive power of scorned affection and the human desire to retaliate, not through violence, but through guilt and fear. The speaker does not want the woman’s love back—he wants her to suffer emotionally as he believes he has.

 

Possible Exam Questions

What does the speaker mean when he calls the woman a "murd'ress" in the poem?

 

Describe the scene that the speaker imagines when his ghost visits the woman.

 

How does the speaker predict the woman will react when she sees his ghost?

 

What is the significance of the "sick taper" in the poem?

 

Why does the speaker say he will not reveal what he will say when he appears as a ghost?

 

How does John Donne use imagery to create a haunting atmosphere in “The Apparition”?

 

Discuss the tone of the poem. How does the speaker’s attitude toward the woman evolve throughout the poem?

 

What role does irony play in the poem? Give examples.

 

Explain the metaphor of the woman as a "feigned vestal." What does this suggest about the speaker’s view of her?

 

How does the poem explore the theme of revenge in love?

 

Compare and contrast the portrayal of love in “The Apparition” with another of John Donne’s love poems.

 

Discuss how “The Apparition” reflects the complex nature of human emotions, especially in the context of rejection and heartbreak.

 

Analyze the use of supernatural elements in the poem and their significance in conveying the speaker’s emotional state.

 

How does John Donne use the speaker’s voice and perspective to engage the reader’s sympathy or judgment?

 

In what ways does “The Apparition” challenge traditional notions of love and forgiveness?