Deconstructionism and Structuralism Analysis of Death be not Proud; John Donne (1572-1631)
The movement of Deconstruction “is generally known regarded as among the most philosophical focal points of the late twentieth century” (Wawrytko, 2008). This theory in literature is important because it is an analytical outlook that is concerned with the relationship between text and meaning. Structuralism is also important in literature as it is concerned with the idea that our imaginative world is structured through binary oppositions (life/death); and that these oppositions structure their meaning.
Structuralism enables the reading of texts and cultures through semiotics, or signs, and it leads us to see everything as textual, composed of signs, …show more content…
Here he refers to Death as an equal;
“Death be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;” The argument is presented in “complex passions and subtle arguments” (Wescott, 1922). The argument that is presented in Death be not Proud (Donne, 1610/2011), is against death. Donne achieves this through the use of paradoxes; the first of which is seen in lines three and four:
“For those whom thou think’st thou dost overthrow,
Die not, poor Death, not yet canst thou kill me” (Donne, 1610/2011 pp. 133-134).
Death is considered, throughout the poem to merely be some sort of transition. A transition that suggests that the person does not die, instead goes onto to live in some sort of afterlife. Death believes that he is conquering men when they die, when in fact, he is helping them to rise (taken from the Christian faith, we rise to the heavens where we are given eternal life, a resurrection of sorts). Through this interpretation, Death actually helps man to rise. Here Donne is speaking to Death in a patronizing manner, kind of taunting him, saying to him that Death is not all supreme, for he helps the speaker to rise to eternal life through …show more content…
During tumultuous religious times, the breaking from Rome and Catholicism, this may be speaking to the death of religious beliefs as they were stripped away to make way for a new religion. This was a time referred to as the English Reformation, a series of events in sixteenth century England, in which the Church of England broke away from the Pope’s authority and the Roman Catholic Church. The break from the Roman Church were, in part, associated with the political movement that affected the practice of Christianity across Europe. With this in mind, it is possible that instead of speaking to Death as the taker of life, instead, perhaps Donne is speaking of the death of the old Church and this makes new religion
The movement of Deconstruction “is generally known regarded as among the most philosophical focal points of the late twentieth century” (Wawrytko, 2008). This theory in literature is important because it is an analytical outlook that is concerned with the relationship between text and meaning. Structuralism is also important in literature as it is concerned with the idea that our imaginative world is structured through binary oppositions (life/death); and that these oppositions structure their meaning.
Structuralism enables the reading of texts and cultures through semiotics, or signs, and it leads us to see everything as textual, composed of signs, …show more content…
Here he refers to Death as an equal;
“Death be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;” The argument is presented in “complex passions and subtle arguments” (Wescott, 1922). The argument that is presented in Death be not Proud (Donne, 1610/2011), is against death. Donne achieves this through the use of paradoxes; the first of which is seen in lines three and four:
“For those whom thou think’st thou dost overthrow,
Die not, poor Death, not yet canst thou kill me” (Donne, 1610/2011 pp. 133-134).
Death is considered, throughout the poem to merely be some sort of transition. A transition that suggests that the person does not die, instead goes onto to live in some sort of afterlife. Death believes that he is conquering men when they die, when in fact, he is helping them to rise (taken from the Christian faith, we rise to the heavens where we are given eternal life, a resurrection of sorts). Through this interpretation, Death actually helps man to rise. Here Donne is speaking to Death in a patronizing manner, kind of taunting him, saying to him that Death is not all supreme, for he helps the speaker to rise to eternal life through …show more content…
During tumultuous religious times, the breaking from Rome and Catholicism, this may be speaking to the death of religious beliefs as they were stripped away to make way for a new religion. This was a time referred to as the English Reformation, a series of events in sixteenth century England, in which the Church of England broke away from the Pope’s authority and the Roman Catholic Church. The break from the Roman Church were, in part, associated with the political movement that affected the practice of Christianity across Europe. With this in mind, it is possible that instead of speaking to Death as the taker of life, instead, perhaps Donne is speaking of the death of the old Church and this makes new religion