Spit in my face, you Jews

Plot: The poem is a contemplation of Christian and Jewish religious views, with the speaker seemingly addressing Jewish people to spit in their face as a metaphorical self-humiliation and confrontation with religious scepticism.
Structure & Language Techniques: Using intricate metaphoric language and complex imagery, Donne encapsulates the inner struggles between faith and doubt, with this challenging dialogue structure reflecting the tension he felt within himself.
Themes & Linking Poems: The main themes are faith, sacrifice, and the human condition, which can be linked to Donne’s other religious and metaphysical poems such as “Holy Sonnet XIV” and “The Flea.”
Key Quotes: “Spit in my face you Jews, and pierce my side,” showcases the violent and confrontational tone Donne used to portray the struggle between different religious beliefs.
Poet & Context: John Donne was a well-known metaphysical poet of the 17th century; his contexts of working as a clergyman within the Anglican Church, and living in a time of religious upheaval, greatly influenced the themes of faith and doubt in his poetry.