The speaker in the poem “Batter My Heart” wants God:
Answers
Explanation:
This poem is part of John Donne's Holy Sonnets sequence, which was probably written during the years 1609-1611 and meditates on God, death, divine love, and faith. "Holy Sonnet 14" comes later in the series and depicts a speaker's personal crisis of faith. The poem also boldly compares God's divine love to a rough, erotic seduction. This intimate and unconventional portrayal of a speaker's longing for faith has made the poem one of Donne's most famous.
Read the full text of “Batter My Heart, Three-Person'd God (Holy Sonnet 14)”
“Batter My Heart, Three-Person'd God (Holy Sonnet 14)” Summary
Slam into my heart, God of the Holy Trinity. So far you've just politely knocked, gently breathed, shone your light, and tried to fix me. The only way for me to get up on my own two feet again is for you to knock me over. Use all your power to break me, to blow me down, to burn me up—and in that way remake me as a new person. I'm like a town that has been taken over by a conquering army and is trying to let you back in, but I can't. Logical thinking, which is supposed to rule my mind when you are away, is also supposed to defend me against attacks on my religious faith. Instead, my logical thinking is held captive by enemy forces and turns out to be feeble, or even unfaithful to you. However, I do love you so much, and greatly desire to be loved by you. But I'm married to your enemy. As such, you'll have to break up that marriage. If marriage is tying the knot, you'll have to untie or cut that knot. You'll have to kidnap me and put me in your prison. That's because, unless you make me love you so much that it enslaves me, I'll never be free. And I'll never be pure unless you have your way with me.