Holy Sonnet 10: Death Be Not Proud, By John Donne

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Holy Sonnet 10: “Death be not proud,” poem is by John Donne published in 1609 most likely Petrarchan sonnet with using the iambic pentameter. Using the iambic meter makes the rhythm of the poem sound flow. Just looking and reading throughout the poem, a reader can assume that John Donne must have been a good talker. A reader can also assume that he must have been an aggressive argument maker by looking at a human title that he has. Donne was a preacher and he had many sermons throughout his life with God words. He was also a religious man. However, this poem is not just related to religion. This poem is about violence and mainly mortality, going against the power of death. This poem also seems to be too personal, intense, deep, and hateful. …show more content…
The poet is criticizing the Death by saying he is not almighty as he thought. He criticized the Death as if it a living thing or a person. He also criticized Death as if death is a person he hates the most in his entire lives. For example, in line 1, Donne is attacking Death with warning him not to have pride as if he is the strongest person alive. The poem stated, “Death, be not proud, though some have called thee.” From the start, John Donne is taking away Death’s confidence by warning him of having pride. The second line also shows the warning for death to avoid reconsidering with his positions, “Mighty and dreadful.” Death might think he is the almighty and very dreadful person, however, John Donne is pointing out for death with mockery. Donne did not particularly use evidence until line 5 and in line 5, John Donne is mocking the Death as he is merely a slave of fates, chance, kings, and desperate men. The poet is stating that Death does not control anything. The Death certainly does not control other forces. According to the poem, “Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men.” This quote shows that the reason why death cannot control anything. Did anyone hear slave control a thing? Since the Earth was born slaves never control or own anything. Since Death is described as a slave, he does not have the power to control anything. Back to line 3 and 4, “For those whom thou think 'st thou dost overthrow... Die …show more content…
John Donne brings religious into this poem as well to shows who has the really power-- the Creation favored human or a servant, the Death. Donne is informing Death that his job is to make an easier pathway for human to go in a better place after their death. According to the poem, “One short sleep past, we wake eternally, And death shall be no more.” With this part of statement, the poet is sarcastically thanking and mocking the Death with how Death has making their journey to the afterlife that many people hope to go after their death. Back to Death’s pride from line 1, first he warned about his pride. Then, in line 12, the poet brings about pride again. However, this time, instead of warning him, he mocks at Death’s pride. According to line 12, “And better than thy stroke; why swell 'st thou then?” John Donne is making Death doubts about his own power. The offensive comments that the poet says is to make the Death realized that he does not have a reason to be proud of and be prideful. Furthermore, in the end of the poem, the poet shows the concept of death in three ways; first is to deal with physical death, second is personified idea of death, and lastly, there is a nonexistence death. Ultimately, the poet considers the existence of Death as a bridge that would lead people to a new life of Christian eleternity. People death is just a nap they

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