Violence

Violence symbolizes the Christian journey to salvation and the difficulty associated with remaining faithful to God. Throughout the poem, the speaker asks God to assault him, using terms like "batter," "break," "burn," and "ravish." All of these verbs are associated with violence and destruction, but the speaker makes it clear that this destruction is part of the redemptive process. He notes early in the poem that these violent acts are meant to "mend" and "make [him] new," suggesting that difficulty and struggle are only one aspect of God's unconditional love for humanity.

Usurped Town

The usurped town symbolizes the speaker's weakness and vulnerability. In Line 5, the speaker compares himself to "an usurp'd town to another due" (5). The speaker suggests through this simile that he has been overpowered by sin in much the same way a conqueror takes over a territory that does not belong to them...