Literature Network » John Donne

John Donne and Elizabethan economic theory.

Content courtesy of

From: Criticism
Date: 19960922
Author:Freer, Coburn

English poet John Donne critiqued existing Elizabethan economic theory in his poetic metaphors. His use of economic metaphor extended beyond the common use of such during his time, and commented upon the valuation of currency, the minting of coins, the supply of gold and its affect upon economic prosperity, and capital investment. Donne compares love to taxation in "A Valediction: of the booke," which the man must pay out in exchange for the pleasure of the woman's physical beauty.

Few poets of Donne's time -- or for that matter any time -- show his understanding of contemporary economic ...

Read the rest of this article with a Free Trial at HighBeam Research.

Other Articles on John Donne

About Our Articles: We've partnered with Highbeam Research to provide these article excerpts for your research needs. However, due to copyright laws, we cannot publish the whole article. To view these articles in full length you'll need to use the link above to access the free trial at Highbeam.