Death, Be Not Proud by John Donne- An Analysis

 

Death, Be Not Proud

-        John Donne

John Donne is a famous metaphysical poet. His "Death, Be Not Proud" is one of his ten Holy Sonnets or Divine Poems. It was believed to be written in 1609 and published two years after his death in 1633. The poem follows the structure of a Petrarchan sonnet.

In this sonnet, “Death” is personified and addressed directly. It is capable of pride, which is, one of the seven deadly sins. Donne challenges death’s perceived power over human existence. From the opening line, “Death, be not proud,” Donne reduces Death’s significance. He portrays it as not “mighty and dreadful,” but as a powerless illusion. He argues that Death does not kill people but merely serves as a passage to eternal life.

Donne further points out that Death is a slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men. He implies that Death is dependent on external factors rather than being an independent force. Additionally, he compares Death with drugs like opium. He asserts that it can just induce a short sleep and so it is controllable.

The final line of the poem, “Death, thou shalt die,” upholds Donne’s Christian belief in resurrection and eternal life. He conveys that Death is a short sleep. It is not an end but a transition. Hence, Donne declares in the concluding line “Death, thou shalt die.” Through this poem, John Donne alleviates the fear of death and spreads the hope of eternal life after death.