Sepulchers

Sepulchers symbolize lifelessness. A sepulcher is a small room or monument in which a person is buried. Donne compares cities to sepulchers, emphasizing the way that urban dwelling draws life out of people and renders them "carcasses" of their former selves (22).

Theaters

Theaters symbolize performance and disingenuousness. Donne compares courts to theaters and courtiers to actors on the stage. This comparison suggests that the court – where Wotton was working – is full of untrustworthy people who are performing in order to get ahead.

Deserts

Deserts symbolize stasis. Donne compares the country to a desert, a unique argument given that the English countryside was often thought of as a natural and rejuvenating respite from the demands of city life. Instead, Donne perceives the country as a place where one is simply stuck until he returns to the bustling city or drama at court.

Snail

The snail symbolizes self-reliance...