Introduction – John Fletcher was a famous dramatist and poet of renaissance period. He has written a number of plays in collaboration of Francis Beaumont, Philipp Massinger, William Shakespeare etc. He was very prolific in terms of writing plays. This poem ‘Melancholy’ is taken from play ‘The Nice valour’ written by John Fletcher. It is a monologue spoken by the passionate lord.
Central Idea – This poem titled as ‘Melancholy’ is wisely written by Fletcher. He has taken melancholy positively. He is focused on the idea that melancholy is more prominent and long lasting state of human in comparison to happiness and it should also be enjoyed by human being as we look for happiness. All pale passions are nothing in front of melancholy.
Themes
- Melancholy is long lasting – Poet states that ‘delights’ are ‘as short as the nights’ and it’s melancholy which remains there with us after delights are gone. This makes the poet to take melancholy as a better partner of life.
- Melancholy is the sweetest – Poet says that life has nothing sweet. But we human are fail to understand that. It is the melancholy which is the sweetest in life. It is more profound than any other mental state of human being. It starts after all other pale passions are ended.
Figure of Speech
- Alliteration – ‘Were wise’, ‘folded arms and fixed eyes’, ‘places which pale passion loves’ and ‘walks, when’ have alliteration as the first sound of these words is a consonant sound and it’s getting repeated. In the above examples consonant sounds /w/, /f/, /p/ is being repeated.
- Consonance – ‘folded arms and fixed eyes’ have consonance in folded and fixed where after repetition of consonant /f/ there is change of vowel sound.
- Simile – ‘Delights’ are compared to ‘nights’. They are considered as short as nights. Hence it is an example of simile.
- Personification – Poet has personified ‘melancholy’ when he welcomes it and find its sight ‘piercing mortifies’.
Controversy regarding authorship of the play- It has been considered that play ‘The nice valour’ from which poem ‘Melancholy’ is taken is written by ‘John Fletcher’ but in recent times few intellectuals have started considering its writer as Thomas Middleton.
Structure and rhyme scheme – Poem do not follow any particular stanza format. It has rhyming but a pattern cannot be discerned.
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