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

 

The Flea

by John Donne

(Poem, Summary, Paraphrase, Analysis & Questions) 

The Flea

Mark but this flea, and mark in this,

How little that which thou deny’st me is;

It suck’d me first, and now sucks thee,

And in this flea our two bloods mingled be;

Thou know’st that this cannot be said

A sin, nor shame, nor loss of maidenhead,

Yet this enjoys before it woo,

And pamper’d swells with one blood made of two,

And this, alas, is more than we would do.

 

Oh stay, three lives in one flea spare,

Where we almost, yea, more than married are.

This flea is you and I, and this

Our marriage-bed, and marriage-temple is;

Though parents grudge, and you, we’are met,

And cloister’d in these living walls of jet.

Though use make you apt to kill me,

Let not to that, self-murder added be,

And sacrilege, three sins in killing three.

 

Cruel and sudden, hast thou since

Purpled thy nail in blood of innocence?

Wherein could this flea guilty be,

Except in that drop which it suck’d from thee?

Yet thou triumph’st, and say’st that thou

Find’st not thy self, nor me the weaker now;

’Tis true; then learn how false fears be:

Just so much honor, when thou yield’st to me,

Will waste, as this flea’s death took life from thee.

 

Summary

The poem begins with the speaker asking the woman to look at a flea. He points out that this tiny flea has bitten both of them and mixed their blood inside it. He says that this mingling of their blood in the flea is a sign that their lives are already connected.

He argues that since their blood is mixed inside the flea, this union is innocent and harmless — it does not cause any sin, shame, or loss of her virginity. He emphasizes that the flea is enjoying the connection between them even before any romantic or physical relationship has begun.

Next, the speaker asks the woman to spare the flea’s life. He explains that the flea contains three lives: his, hers, and the flea’s own life. Because their bloods are combined inside the flea, he suggests this makes them like a married couple, as if the flea’s body is their marriage bed or temple.

Even though the woman might be tempted to kill the flea, he warns that killing it would be like committing three sins — killing the flea and both their lives inside it.

However, the woman suddenly kills the flea. The speaker asks why she did so cruelly and quickly, staining her nail with the innocent blood inside the flea.

He then points out that the flea was not guilty of any wrongdoing except for carrying their blood. Despite this, she celebrates killing it.

Finally, the speaker concludes that since her action did not make either of them weaker or harmed her honor, she should realize that giving in to him (implied to mean surrendering to love or physical intimacy) would also cause no harm or loss of honor, just like the flea’s death caused no harm.

 

Line-by-line Paraphrase

Mark but this flea, and mark in this,

Just look at this flea carefully.

 

How little that which thou deny’st me is;

Notice how small the thing you’re refusing me really is.

 

It suck’d me first, and now sucks thee,

The flea bit me first, and now it’s biting you.

 

And in this flea our two bloods mingled be;

Inside this flea, our bloods are mixed together.

 

Thou know’st that this cannot be said

You know that this cannot be called

 

A sin, nor shame, nor loss of maidenhead,

A sin, shameful, or the loss of your virginity.

 

Yet this enjoys before it woo,

But the flea is enjoying our union before any courtship or love-making.

 

And pamper’d swells with one blood made of two,

It’s grown fat and swollen with our combined blood.

 

And this, alas, is more than we would do.

And sadly, this flea has done more together than we have.

 

Oh stay, three lives in one flea spare,

Oh wait, spare this flea—it holds three lives in one.

 

Where we almost, yea, more than married are.

Inside it, we are almost, even more than married.

 

This flea is you and I, and this

This flea represents both you and me,

 

Our marriage-bed, and marriage-temple is;

And is like our marriage bed and sacred temple.

 

Though parents grudge, and you, we’are met,

Even if your parents don’t approve, and even if you resist, we have joined together.

 

And cloister’d in these living walls of jet.

We’re enclosed in the flea’s dark, living body walls.

 

Though use make you apt to kill me,

Though you may be used to killing me (rejecting me),

 

Let not to that, self-murder added be,

Don’t add killing yourself by killing the flea.

 

And sacrilege, three sins in killing three.

Killing the flea would be like committing three sins by killing three lives.

 

Cruel and sudden, hast thou since

Since then, you have cruelly and suddenly

 

Purpled thy nail in blood of innocence?

Stained your fingernail with innocent blood?

 

Wherein could this flea guilty be,

How could this flea be guilty of anything,

 

Except in that drop which it suck’d from thee?

Except for the tiny drop of your blood it took?

 

Yet thou triumph’st, and say’st that thou

Yet you celebrate and say that you

 

Find’st not thy self, nor me the weaker now;

Don’t find yourself or me weaker after killing it.

 

’Tis true; then learn how false fears be:

That’s true, so now learn how mistaken your fears are:

 

Just so much honor, when thou yield’st to me,

Your honor will be lost just as little when you give in to me

 

Will waste, as this flea’s death took life from thee.

As the flea’s death took life from neither of us.

 

Analysis in Detail

The Flea is a clever and witty metaphysical poem that explores themes of love, seduction, and the nature of physical intimacy through an unusual metaphor—the flea. John Donne uses the flea as a persuasive device to convince the woman to yield to his romantic and physical desires.

 

Central Metaphor and Argument:

The flea becomes a symbol of union between the speaker and the woman. Donne points out that the flea has bitten both of them, mixing their blood inside its tiny body. This mingling of blood, to the speaker, represents a union that is innocent and intimate. He uses this to argue that if their blood is already combined harmlessly within the flea, then physical intimacy between them wouldn’t be a big moral or social leap. The flea, which seems insignificant and trivial, becomes a powerful emblem of connection and closeness.

 

Play on Social and Moral Conventions:

The poem challenges the social taboos and the weight that society places on virginity and purity. The speaker argues that the mingling of blood inside the flea causes no sin or shame, and therefore, physical intimacy between the two should not be seen as something shameful or damaging. This is a provocative and somewhat audacious argument designed to persuade the woman to reconsider her resistance.

 

Use of Conceit and Wit:

Donne is a master of the metaphysical conceit—a striking and unusual metaphor that links two very different things in a surprising way. The flea is an ordinary, even repulsive insect, but Donne elevates it to symbolize marriage, physical union, and sacred space. This contrast between the mundane and the profound adds humor and intellectual playfulness to the poem. The speaker’s tone is both teasing and logical, trying to seduce through clever reasoning rather than overt emotion.

 

The Flea as a ‘Marriage Bed’ and ‘Temple’:

The speaker describes the flea’s body as a marriage bed and temple, sacred places where two lives are joined. This imagery suggests that their union inside the flea is more legitimate or significant than any social or physical barriers would allow. The flea encloses them like walls made of black jet (a precious stone), emphasizing intimacy and enclosure.

 

The Woman’s Power and the Flea’s Death:

Despite the speaker’s plea, the woman kills the flea. Her action is sudden and cruel, staining her nail with innocent blood. This act can be seen as her rejection of the speaker’s argument and her assertion of control over her own body and choices.

 

Speaker’s Response to the Flea’s Death:

Rather than giving up, the speaker uses the flea’s death to make another argument. He points out that killing the flea did not harm either of them or diminish their honor. By this, he implies that yielding to him (physically) would also be harmless and without loss of honor. The speaker uses the flea’s death as a way to dismiss exaggerated fears and societal constraints around physical relationships.

 

Themes:

Seduction and Persuasion: The poem is essentially a witty attempt at seduction, where the speaker uses logic, humor, and metaphor to persuade the woman.

Physical Union vs. Social Norms: It explores the tension between natural physical desires and restrictive social or moral rules about sex and virginity.

Innocence and Guilt: The flea symbolizes a harmless union that challenges the idea that physical intimacy is inherently sinful or shameful.

Power and Control: The interaction reflects a subtle battle of wills, where the woman exercises power by killing the flea and rejecting the speaker’s proposal.

 

Tone and Style:

The tone is playful, ironic, and somewhat provocative. The speaker’s voice is confident and clever, using sharp reasoning and poetic wit. The style is typical of metaphysical poetry — intellectual, argumentative, and rich in imagery and conceits.

 

Possible Exam Questions

Summarize the argument that the speaker makes in The Flea.

 

What role does the flea play in the poem? How does the speaker use it to persuade the woman?

 

Explain the significance of the flea as a metaphysical conceit in the poem.

 

How does John Donne use imagery and metaphor to explore themes of love and physical union?

 

Discuss how the tone of the poem contributes to its overall meaning.

 

What does the poem suggest about the social attitudes towards virginity and physical intimacy during John Donne’s time?

 

How does the speaker respond to the woman’s killing of the flea? What does this reveal about his character?

 

Do you think the speaker’s argument in The Flea is effective? Why or why not?

 

How might the poem be read as a commentary on power dynamics in relationships?

 

Compare the use of the flea in this poem with how other poets use unusual metaphors or symbols to discuss love or intimacy.

 

Identify and explain examples of metaphysical poetry techniques used in The Flea.

 

How does the poem’s rhyme scheme and structure affect the way the argument is presented?

 

What is your personal reaction to the poem’s use of the flea as a symbol? Do you find it persuasive, humorous, or unsettling? Explain your response.