Name: Mariane Mel M.

Fariñas Score:
Year & Course: AB-ENGLISH 2

An Analysis on the poem

Song: to Celia by Ben Jonson

The poet, English playwright, and actor Ben Jonson was born on June 11,
1572 in England—died on August 6, 1637. He is viewed as the second most
significant dramatist after William Shakespeare, during the rule of King James I.
Among his major plays are the comedies Every Man in His
Humour (1598), Volpone (1605), Epicoene; or, The Silent Woman (1609), The
Alchemist (1610), and Bartholomew Fair (1614). Song: to Celia is Ben Jonson's
famous love song, first published in his 1616 collection The Forest. It depicts the
speaker love for his beloved, as if he was bewitched by her beauty, waiting for her to
glance his way. The speaker wishes to be intoxicated as he is completely drunk in
love.

The first four lines is filled with metaphors portraying that if Celia would drink
with him as they lock eyes with each other, he vows to devote himself to her. He’ll
even go further if only “Celia leave one kiss but in the cup” will quench his thirst that
he’s not going to look for a literal wine. Because her kiss is better than any wine, it
drives him insane and can get him drunk enough to drink any more wine. “The thirst
that from the soul doth rise, Doth ask for a drink divine; But might I of Jove’s nectar
sup, I would not change for thine.” The speaker claims that his thirst for love has
reach the soul and only a divine drink that transcends Jove’s nectar could quench it.
"Jove" refers to the god Jupiter, lord of the classical gods and a recurrent symbol of
divinity in secular poetry. The gods drank a heavenly nectar far finer than any wine
mortals drank. He considers Celia’s kiss more divine than any of the gods wine.

The lines 9-12 shows that he confessed to the girl he likes, sent her flowers
as a token of his love, quite late for he just only gathered his courage, hoping he
receives an answer to his confession even though it might be futile still, he wishes for
his efforts to have a fruitful result however it only ended up in vain. Not only Celia did
not say anything, she also sent back the flowers he gave her. The last part indicate
that it is an unrequited love, it is quite obvious how much the speaker loves Celia
but, it is only one-sided.

In summary, Song: to Celia is a poem that reveals the sweet yet bitter
emotions of the speaker as he declares his undying love for Celia as he praises
every fiber of her being. It also embodies the passion of a man who adores a woman
relating her to a divine being like a goddess. As well as, mentioning how much he
craves for her attention, practically begging for her to look at him even for just a
second. He’s willing to be overwhelmed with how much he desires her. He covet her
kisses describing it better than Jove’s nectar. It is a poem that captures the essence
of love, the depth of each lines shows the speakers yearning and longing which
made it timeless work of literature that connects to every readers who encounter this
beautiful masterpiece. A literature enjoyer or not, this will surely capture your heart.