Donne’s convalescence

This article argues that the period of Donne's convalescence immediately after his near-fatal illness in late 1623 is crucial for an understanding of the text it spawned, his Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions (1624). A unique work of meditative writing composed in under a month, the Devotions c...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inRenaissance studies Vol. 31; no. 4; pp. 532 - 548
Main Author Lund, Mary Ann
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Oxford Wiley (Variant) 01.09.2017
Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Subjects
17th century
Donne, John
English literature
illness
Illnesses
John Donne
Religious history
Religious literature
Renaissance period
Sermons
Sin
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:This article argues that the period of Donne's convalescence immediately after his near-fatal illness in late 1623 is crucial for an understanding of the text it spawned, his Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions (1624). A unique work of meditative writing composed in under a month, the Devotions centres on the author's ‘Steps in my Sicknes’ but does so through the quieter time of spiritual stock-taking that succeeded it. The period of recovery from illness becomes an important part of Donne's treatment of human sinfulness and repentance. The article explores his conceptualization of and images for convalescence, first through one of his churching sermons, then through the Devotions itself, and finally through an undated Candlemas sermon which this article dates to February 1624, very shortly after Donne's illness. This second sermon demonstrates an intimate relationship with the Devotions and marks a more public response to illness and recovery within the context of St Paul's Cathedral.
ISSN:0269-1213
1477-4658
DOI:10.1111/rest.12246