Life of Cowley - Part C

  • Comment on Johnson's views of metaphysical poetry in his "The Life of Cowley". [NU. 2014, 18, 20]

/Johnson's assessment of the "race" of metaphysical poets in The Life of Cowley.

Metaphysical poetry refers to a poetry, which has been inspired by a philosophic conception of the universe. In writing The Life of Cowley Samuel Johnson has made a critical assessment of the works of the metaphysical poets, especially of Cowley. Metaphysical poets appear as a new school of thought led by John Donne.


Metaphysical poetry has been inspired by a philosophical conception of the universe. It gives the role assigned to the human spirit in the great drama of existence. Chiefly the metaphysical poets wrote two types of poems— love poems and religious poems. John Donne, Andrew Marvell, Cowley usually wrote love poems but Henry Vaughan wrote religious poems. Such poets displayed their wit and intellect and used conceits from different sources. 


Johnson says that the love poems of the metaphysical poets have a different character and philosophy. The love poems of Cowley are obscure and full of perplexity. Love changes its character with the passage of time. The attention of ‘flesh’ in love changes gradually. Everything is inconstant. According to Johnson, the tears of lovers hold great poetic value and it is difficult to be properly comprehended. To find its proper meaning, the readers have to read it again and again.


As a biographer Johnson threw a stream of light on both the merits and demerits of the metaphysical poets. He was critical about their writings of poems. Johnson has given his own views in his assessment of the metaphysical poets. He has not only examined the works of Cowley but of other metaphysical poets too.


The Life of Cowley mainly depends on a book written by Mr. Sprat. But Johnson does not fail to give his own ideas and opinions. To assess Cowley, he has compared Cowley with Milton. He has shown that Cowley and Milton may be compared but the advantage seems to lie on the side of Cowley. Milton expresses the thoughts of the ancients in their language. But Cowley has presented the classical ideas and language in his own way.


The metaphysical poets were men of learning and they tried to expose their learning in their poems. They could not copy life and nature. Their thoughts were often new but seldom natural. They used conceits to serve their purpose. Wit is an important feature of metaphysical poetry. Metaphysical poetry has more music and much sentiment. Ordinary readers were not acquainted with this kind of style and use of conceits.


In conclusion, It can be said that Cowley was a greater poet than Donne and his style of writing was really remarkable. Cowley is a wonderful poet no doubt but it is not fair to comment that in adopting the metaphysical style Cowley surpassed his predecessors.