Content
The poem is narrated by a young man, possibly shortly before getting married a young woman who happens to his audience. The poem is written in 16th century English context given the spelling of most words. The narrator is bent on persuading his lover to engage in premarital sex. His lover on the other hand is adamant, perceiving premarital sex as sin, “shameful and loss of maiden head.” The narrator uses a flea as a point of reference to persuade his lover. The flea having sucked both his and her blood, has both bloods mixed, a situation the narrator considers “more than married.” The narrator considers the mixing of bloods more intimate and bonding than sex thus premarital sex is deemed as “little thing.” Eventually the narrator’s lover squashes the flea with her finger proceeding to wipe the purple blood with her fingernails. This action prompts the narrator to refer to her as “cruel and sudden” while reflecting on the effect of the flea’s murder. The narrator deduces from the flea’s inconsequential death to its killer as inconsequential nature of premarital sex. The emotion and mood in the poem is one of subtle determination as the narrator tries to convince his lover to have sex before married.
Themes
Chastity is a conspicuous theme where the narrator uses flimsy arguments to underplay its importance. For instance, the narrator considers the mixing of two bloods in the flea more intimate than sex but it cannot be termed as wrong, “And in this flea our two bloods mingled be; Thou know’st that this cannot be said A sin, or shame, or loss of maidenhead ” ( World Poetry Foundation). Additionally, the narrator diminishes Chastity’s importance by observing how pompous the flea looks after mixing the two bloods an incidence “worse” than sex. Relational conflict is another theme observable from the poem. This is exemplified in the narrator’s refusal to engage in sex noted in the narrator’s complaint “How little that which thou deniest me is” (World Poetry Foundation). On the other hand, the narrator’s lover deems sex as “sin and shame” contrasting the narrator’s perception as “little thing.” Another incidence of relational conflict is seen in the parent’s disapproval of the romantic relationship between the narrator and his lover “though parents grudge, and you, we are met” ( World Poetry Foundation). Romance is also a theme in the poem where the narrator seeks intimate romance between him and the lover.
Symbolism and intertextuality
Symbolism is evident in the use of the flea to illustrate the sexual union “Me it sucked first, and now sucks thee, And in this flea our two bloods mingled be” (World Poetry Foundation). The narrator suggests there are three lives in the flea, his, his lover and the flea’s thus making it the most important part of the relationship “This flea is you and I, and this Our marriage bed and marriage temple is; ” (World Poetry Foundation). Sex in the context of marriage is vital component of maintaining the marital bond as well as sanctity.
Intertextuality is exhibited in lines where the narrator uses the idea of the flea to expose debates on premarital sex. Conventionally, it was considered sin and consequential in regards to associated dishonor thus the statement “Thou know’st that this cannot be said A sin, or shame, or loss of maidenhead” (World Poetry Foundation). Conversely, those engaging in premarital sex deemed inconsequential and less intimate than conventionally held. The flea sucking blood from both the narrator and love is an also an intertextuality of marriage where the narrator states “This flea is you and I, and this Our marriage bed and marriage temple is” (World Poetry Foundation).
Work cited
World Poetry Foundation, Flea. World Poetry Foundation. November 14, 2011. Web.
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