In "The Apparition", the speaker addresses his former love interest as a "murderess" who has killed him metaphorically through her scorn. He proclaims that all of her future relationships will be doomed, for when she finds herself "in worse arms" than his, "then shall my ghost come to thy bed," (Donne 889). The speaker means that his memory shall haunt her when she is with other men. Furthermore, through his language, the speaker reveals that this woman's transgressions against him are quite serious. He calls her a "feigned vestal", or a fake virgin, to denounce her recent lascivious behavior. Also, he foresees her becoming a "poor aspen wretch" and "a verier ghost" than he as she seeks the love of other men (Donne 889). However, the purpose of the poem is not simply for the speaker to vent his anger, but for the woman to realize the severity of her sin. Accordingly, the speaker informs this woman that he has something to tell her. When she hears it, she shall "painfully repent" for what she has done, but that will not be enough (Donne 890). The speaker never reveals his message, but I believe he means to tell the woman he loved her. In doing so, he makes the woman's actions against him not just the ending of a relationship, but the betrayal of someone's earnest love.
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