Good Friday, 1613. Riding Westward by John Donne (Poem, Summary, Paraphrase, Analysis & Questions)

 

Good Friday, 1613. Riding Westward

by John Donne

(Poem, Summary, Paraphrase, Analysis & Questions) 

Good Friday, 1613. Riding Westward

I run to death, and death meets me as fast,

And all my pleasures are like yesterday,

I dare not move my dimmed eyes, lest they

Themselves with my tears blinded should be cast.

 

Straight backward, as my outward eye doth pass,

That is my inner eye, which sight doth aid,

To give full knowledge of that darksome shade,

Which in true sight must ever backward class.

 

In this day's stage of my age, I saw God in my west;

And, as I turned my ride, I turned my eye,

And blest the place where th'vilain Sun doth rest.

 

But that I know, where'er I go,

But westward, look, no further can I see,

Because I look'd that way; and I am blest in that I see.

 

Summary

The poem describes the poet’s reflections during a horseback ride westward on Good Friday, the day commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

At the beginning, Donne speaks about how he is moving toward death, which meets him quickly. He feels sorrowful, and his pleasures seem fleeting like yesterday’s memories.

He is cautious not to let his tears blur his vision, since his tears could blind his eyes and prevent him from seeing clearly.

As his outward eyes look backward (to the west), his inner eye (his mind or soul) assists in perceiving the spiritual darkness and significance of the day.

The westward direction is important because the sun sets in the west, and it is towards the west that Jesus Christ died on the cross.

Donne notes that as he rides west, he turns his eyes that way and blesses the place where the “vilain Sun” (the setting sun) rests.

However, he realizes that he cannot fully see God by looking outward toward the west because God is beyond physical sight and direction.

His “inner eye” or spiritual vision is what truly sees and is blessed on this day.

The poem ends with Donne accepting that his outward vision is limited to the west, but spiritually he is blessed for the vision he has.

In essence, the poem narrates Donne’s physical journey westward on Good Friday and uses that journey as a metaphor for spiritual reflection on Christ’s crucifixion, the limitations of physical sight, and the blessing of inner spiritual vision.

 

Line-by-line Paraphrase

I run to death, and death meets me as fast,

I am moving quickly toward death, and death is coming to meet me just as fast.

 

And all my pleasures are like yesterday,

All the joys I have experienced feel as fleeting and past as yesterday.

 

I dare not move my dimmed eyes, lest they

I’m afraid to move my tired and blurred eyes, because

 

Themselves with my tears blinded should be cast.

If I move them, my tears might blind my eyes completely.

 

Straight backward, as my outward eye doth pass,

My physical eyes look straight backward (to the west) as I ride.

 

That is my inner eye, which sight doth aid,

But it is actually my inner eye (my mind or soul) that helps me truly see.

 

To give full knowledge of that darksome shade,

This inner eye helps me understand the deep spiritual darkness

 

Which in true sight must ever backward class.

That darkness which can only be truly seen by looking backward.

 

In this day's stage of my age, I saw God in my west;

On this day of my life (Good Friday), I saw God in the west (where the sun sets).

 

And, as I turned my ride, I turned my eye,

And as I turned my horse westward, I also turned my eyes that way.

 

And blest the place where th'vilain Sun doth rest.

And I blessed the place where the sinful sun sets in the west.

 

But that I know, where'er I go,

Yet I know that wherever I go,

 

But westward, look, no further can I see,

I can only see outwardly toward the west; I cannot see beyond it.

 

Because I look'd that way; and I am blest in that I see.

Because I looked that way, I am blessed that I am able to see at all.

 

Analysis in Detail

John Donne’s poem captures a complex spiritual and emotional moment during a physical journey on Good Friday, the day Christians commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The poem intertwines Donne’s outward experience of riding westward with his inward spiritual reflections.

At the very start, Donne is acutely aware of mortality—he says he is running toward death, and death is meeting him just as quickly. This urgency reflects both the physical reality of aging and the spiritual reality of human sinfulness and the need for redemption. The fleeting nature of his pleasures (“all my pleasures are like yesterday”) hints at the transient and fragile nature of worldly joys compared to eternal spiritual truths.

Donne’s hesitation to move his “dimmed eyes” because of tears symbolizes a deep emotional and spiritual sorrow. The tears represent repentance and mourning over sin and the death of Christ. Yet, he fears that his vision may be blinded, symbolizing the risk of losing spiritual insight if overwhelmed by grief or despair.

The poem then shifts into a meditation on vision—both physical and spiritual. His “outward eye” looks backward, literally toward the west, the direction of the setting sun and the site of Christ’s crucifixion. However, Donne emphasizes that it is the “inner eye,” or spiritual sight, that truly perceives the deeper meaning of Good Friday. This inner vision grants him “full knowledge” of the “darksome shade,” a metaphor for the darkness of sin and death overshadowed by the crucifixion.

By focusing on the west, Donne connects the physical journey with the spiritual journey: the west is where the sun “rests,” but this “vilain Sun” can be read as a symbol of sin or worldly corruption setting down in the face of divine sacrifice. His blessing of the western place is both an acknowledgment of the physical location and a spiritual recognition of the significance of Christ’s death.

The poem’s final lines express a paradox: Donne knows his physical sight is limited; he can only look westward outwardly and cannot see beyond that horizon. Yet, he finds blessing in this limitation because it forces reliance on the inner, spiritual sight. This spiritual sight is what truly “sees” God, not just the physical direction of his death.

Overall, the poem explores themes of mortality, sin, repentance, and spiritual enlightenment. Donne’s personal journey on Good Friday becomes a metaphor for the Christian journey toward salvation. His interplay of physical movement and inner reflection highlights the tension between earthly limitations and spiritual aspirations. The poem ends with a humble acceptance of these limits, trusting that true vision comes from within.

 

Possible Exam Questions

Explain the significance of the westward direction in John Donne’s poem "Good Friday, 1613. Riding Westward." How does it contribute to the overall theme?

 

How does John Donne portray the relationship between physical sight and spiritual vision in the poem? Use examples from the text.

 

Discuss the theme of mortality as presented in "Good Friday, 1613. Riding Westward." How does Donne express his awareness of death?

 

What role do emotions, such as sorrow and repentance, play in Donne’s poem? How are these emotions conveyed through the imagery of tears?

 

Analyze how John Donne uses the metaphor of riding westward to explore spiritual introspection in the poem.

 

In what ways does the poem reflect the religious and theological concerns of John Donne’s time?

 

Discuss the paradox in the poem regarding the limits of physical sight and the blessing of spiritual sight. What does this suggest about Donne’s beliefs?

 

Describe the tone of "Good Friday, 1613. Riding Westward." How does Donne’s tone contribute to the reader’s understanding of the poem’s message?

 

How does John Donne blend the physical journey with the spiritual journey in the poem? Provide textual evidence.

 

Explain the significance of Good Friday as the setting for this poem. How does the historical and religious context deepen the meaning of Donne’s reflections?