The Variorum Edition of the Poetry of John Donne, Volume 7, Part 1: The Holy Sonnets

HSBlack

~ HSBlack COMMENTARY General Commentary An anonymous author writing in QR (1862-63, 85) prints HSBlack with the comment that it is "one of the sonnets written in the agony of ... [Donne's] soul, apparently in the last struggle, between doubt and conquering faith." Gransden (1954, 128, 136) describes HSBlack, HSMade, and HSScene as "rather sombre" sonnets that present a poet "seeking strength, grace, and forgiveness from Christ." In the poems, Gransden argues, Donne is "not speaking professionally or doctrinally but is meditating privately" on the human soul (136). Cohen (1963, 168-69) observes that this sonnet possesses "agonized but sure.. footed reasoning, expressed in the simple imagery of treason, prison, and execution." Donne's move from the "pilgrim" to the thief who awaits sentence before receiving his punishment "heightens the tension and strengthens the analogy between the poet's state and the prison in which both captives languish." He adds that the im.. ages are "of the simplest, yet they are marked with Donne's personal imprint." Donne's color imagery, remarks Herbold (1965, 284) was susceptible to "balance." In HSBlack, he adds, Donne "found a structure in the opposition of a black soul ... to the red face of a blushing sinner and to Christ's blood." Halewood (1970, 8o) remarks that Donne expresses reconciliation in the Holy Sonnets, with HSBlack, for example, moving "surely from the soul's sin to Christ's redemptive power." According to Sanders (197 I, 128), HSBlack presents the cliche of washing in Christ's blood, and "the verbal games with colour..symbolism turn the drama of re.. demption into the antics of a moral chameleon." Altizer (1973, 84) thinks that in HSBlack Donne attempts to find the "grace to begin" (1. 10) by creating a symbolism of color linking the poet's "sick soul" and Christ's redeeming blood. The paradoxical conceits in the poem may lead to a deeper understanding of Christian symbolism, Altizer states, but not necessarily to grace or repentance. Blanch (1974, 48o) also believes that the use of color symbolism is significant in HSBlack, writing that "the blackness of sin must be transformed into the black garb of mourning-the initial step towards spiritual rebirth, whereas the redness of sin (sins of passion) must turn into the blush of shame." He adds that "through Christ's redeeming blood ... the poet may put on the white robe of supernatural life." ~ HSBlack COMMENTARY General Commentary An anonymous author writing in QR (1862-63, 85) prints HSBlack with the comment that it is "one of the sonnets written in the agony of ... [Donne's] soul, apparently in the last struggle, between doubt and conquering faith." Gransden (1954,128, 136) describes HSBlack, HSMade, and HSScene as "rather sombre" sonnets that present a poet "seeking strength, grace, and forgiveness from Christ." In the poems, Gransden argues, Donne is "not speaking professionally or doctrinally but is meditating privately" on the human soul (136). Cohen (1963, 168-69) observes that this sonnet possesses "agonized but surefooted reasoning, expressed in the simple imagery of treason, prison, and execution." Donne's move from the "pilgrim" to the thief who awaits sentence before receiving his punishment "heightens the tension and strengthens the analogy between the poet's state and the prison in which both captives languish." He adds that the images are "of the simplest, yet they are marked with Donne's personal imprint." Donne's color imagery, remarks Herbold (1965,284) was susceptible to "balance." In HSBlack, he adds, Donne "found a structure in the opposition of a black soul ... to the red face of a blushing sinner and to Christ's blood." Halewood (1970, 8o) remarks that Donne expresses reconciliation in the Holy Sonnets, with HSBlack, for example, moving "surely from the soul's sin to Christ's redemptive power." According to Sanders (197 I, 128), HSBlack presents the cliche of washing in Christ's blood, and "the verbal games with colour-symbolism turn the drama of redemption into the antics of a moral chameleon." Altizer (1973, 84) thinks that in HSBlack Donne attempts to find the "grace to begin" (1. 10) by creating a symbolism of color linking the poet's "sick soul" and Christ's redeeming blood. The paradoxical conceits in the poem may lead to a deeper understanding of Christian symbolism, Altizer states, but not necessarily to grace or repentance. Blanch (1974, 48o) also believes that the use of color symbolism is significant in HSBlack, writing that "the blackness of sin must be transformed into...