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Donne's Satyre III.(poet John Donne)(Critical Essay)

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From: The Explicator
Date: 20020622
Author:Herek, Bryan Thomas

Recent criticism focuses on Satyre III as a reflection of Donne's religious beliefs, especially with regard to his conversion. (1) Although Donne satirizes various aspects of organized religion in this piece (titled "Of Religion" in one manuscript and "Uppon Religion" in another), (2) the final lines indicate a shift in his focus of satiric inquiry from "Mistris faire Religion" (line 5) to politics and commerce. In short, the final lines of Satyre III serve as a warning against the destructive potential of not only religious but political and commercial power as well.

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