Ben Jonson: On My First Son

Whereas Donne’s work argues that death does not matter because it leads to eternal life, Jonson’s poem “On My First Son” show that death wounds those grieving people left behind.

Background:

Ben Jonson was indebted to ancient Greek and Roman poets, whose work shaped his taste for clear, brief expression. Like ancient poets, Jonson composed poetry with a definite social function. Jonson’s poems praising other writers appeared at the beginning of their books. Poems such as “On My Firs Son” marked the occasion of a death. Songs such as “Still to Be Neat” were written by Jonson for his masques 9 royal entertainment).

Vocabulary: 1. child…hand literal translation of the Hebrew name Benjamin, the name of Jonson’s son, Jonson’s son was born in 1596 and died in 1603. 2. Just exact 3. Lose…father shed an identity as a father 4. Like possibly meant I the old sense of “please”

On My First Son

Farewell, thou child of my right hand, and joy ; My sin was too much hope of thee, lov'd boy. Seven years thou wert lent to me, and I thee pay, Exacted by thy fate, on the just day. Oh, could I lose all father now ! For why Will man lament the state he should envy? To have so soon 'scaped world's and flesh's rage, And if no other misery, yet age ! Rest in soft peace, and, asked, say, Here doth lie Ben Jonson his best piece of poetry. For whose sake henceforth all his vows be such As what he loves may never like too much. Jonson’s Vision of His Son

According to an anecdote related by William Drummond, Jonson experienced a premonition about his son Benjamin. Jonson was visiting at the country home of Sir Robert Cotton when he had a dream in which his eldest son appeared, fully grown but “with the mark of a bloody cross on his forehead, as if it had been cutted with a sword.” Amazed and distressed, Jonson related his vision to a friend, who assured him that it was only a dream. Soon after, Jonson received letters from his wife bearing news of seven-year-old Benjamin’s death of plague.

People who were able to do so spent the summer “plague seasons” in the countryside, away from the infections of London. It is not known whether Jonson felt regret for having been away while his family remained at risk in the city.

Questions for “On My First Son”

1. Do you think the speaker on “On My First Son” is wise in not wanting to love anything so strongly again? Explain.

2. What is the sin the speaker refers to in line 2?

3. Why does the speaker call this feeling a sin?

4. Why does the speaker wish to “lose all father now”? What does he vow in lines 11-12? 5. Does the speaker ever present his feelings of grief directly? Explain. Why might this manner of presenting grief strengthen the impression made on the reader?

6. Contrast the ideas in lines 5-8 with contemporary attitudes. Which makes more sense to you?