... presence of sex in the "holy" sonnet while others have looked at it from a Freudian perspective and transformed the speaker into a sadomasochist with an Oedipus complex. No matter how the poem is interpreted, it is important to remember that it was not intended to be a secular poem. However, Donne ... parallel between sexual and religious contentment. Although the entire poem can be seen as one great paradoxical work, all of Donne's poems end with a clearly defined paradox. "The paradoxes which close the religious poems assert his communion with God, for these paradoxes are, most of them...

• Word Count: 2802
• Approx Pages: 11

... completely deny the presence of sex in the "holy" sonnet while others take a Freudian perspective transforming the s speaker into a sadomasochist with an Oedipus complex. Kensinger lies in between. While she believes Donne uses sexual imagery to describe the speaker's acceptance of God's will she is continually aware ... as one considers that although Donne conjures these violent acts of "against the speaker, the speaker in fact calls and begs for them, thus a twisted paradox. Donne opens with a dramatic, sudden violent apostrophe: -Batter my heart, three d God."" Kensinger mentions how...

• Word Count: 7662
• Approx Pages: 31
• Grade Level: High School