Death Be Not Proud Analysis

Death be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadfull, for, thou art not soe,
For, those, whom thou think'st, thou dost overthrow,
Die not, poore death, nor yet canst thou kill mee.
From rest and sleepe, which but thy pictures bee,
Much pleasure, then from thee, much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee doe goe,
Rest of their bones, and soules deliverie.
Thou art slave to Fate, Chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poyson, warre, and sicknesse dwell,
And poppie, or charmes can make us sleepe as well,
And better then thy stroake; why swell'st thou then?
One short sleepe past, wee wake eternally,
And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die.

.: :.

I enjoyed this poem, it talk about a lot of things wrong with death. I think John Donne is extremely afraid of death himself, but never got to admit it in this poem.As it was written in the Elizabethan period, it also expresses the moods of what they might have been feeling, not only for the poet, but for the audience also. x

| Posted on 2008-08-10 | by a guest

.: :.

I enjoyed this poem, it talk about a lot of things wrong with death. I think John Donne is extremely afraid of death himself, but never got to admit it in this poem.As it was written in the Elizabethan period, it also expresses the moods of what they might have been feeling, not only for the poet, but for the audience also. x

| Posted on 2008-08-10 | by a guest

.: The REAL meaning. :.

Yes, Donne is basically mocking death.
But there is a deeper meaning behind it. Because, in the century that Donne had lived - almost everything was in command with Religion.
Because, Religion played such a big part of his life his belief in "Eternal Afterlife" is shown throughout the poem.
Yes, he shows that Death is nothing to fear - and talks of Death's will through things like War and Illness. He speaks of the similarity between death and sleeping and the peaceful nature of sleeping.
He creates an understanding that ALL men die and that Death shouldn't be proud or pompous - because some people evidentally die on their own accord - eg. drugs
I love the conceit. The concluding couplet - it's such a clever argument.
the irony of "Death" actually "Dieing"
Because, death shouldn't be percieved as a "scary thing" - it's like being born again.
The journey TO eternal afterlife.
=)
i'm in year ten, 15 years old. I studied the poem today in English
I really liked it.

| Posted on 2008-06-03 | by a guest

.: Donne :.

This sonnet is as dramatic as many works by Donne. It is an apostrophe in which Donne teases and trivialises death and denounces it power, referring it as a slave and nothing more than a nap ..one short sleepe past. He is making death out to be weak as well as a loser because when a man dies, death dies and loses what little power it had to begin with.

| Posted on 2008-05-15 | by a guest

.: Slave to mans fate :.

death is really nothing to fear
death is the only thing that really dies
all death does is relieving us of all the pain

| Posted on 2008-05-07 | by a guest

.: Slave to mans fate :.

death is really nothing to fear
death is the only thing that really dies
all death does is relieving us of all the pain

| Posted on 2008-05-07 | by a guest

.: important :.

Death dont' be proud even though you pride in it.
you are not mighty or scary as some people may say.
for all those people you took away, you are still unable to take me. So don't die, poor death, before you take me away. the first 4 lines he's mocking death.
Death, you're just a picture of peace (rest and sleep).
Dying is a pleasurable state and death is full of pleasure. You eventually take away our love ones away(best men), but you're just giving their body rest and freeing their soul.
the second 4 lines he's teasing death.
Death, you're a slave to fate and to man's action.
Poison , war, sickness, and sleeping pills will kill us but then so what?
One quick moment pass and comes eternal life.
Death will be no more, in turn it's really Death's funeral when a man dies. Last 6 lines he's pitying death.

| Posted on 2008-05-05 | by a guest

.: Kings? :.

I really don't think that this poem has something to do with the kings during Donne's time. As we have known, the author is a metaphysical poet.

| Posted on 2008-04-21 | by a guest

.: :.

guys, I have a mid-term exam, tomorrow in this poem.
I'll write from your analysises but if they were wrong, and I took zero in the exam. expect anything from the insulting words.
I'm kidding.
you realy helped me in understanding it in different ways and this is what the professor wants, she wants our own explanations and opinions.
wait for me to know my mark. I hope it is full.

| Posted on 2008-04-04 | by a guest

.: My views abt death....... :.

Well according to my point of view, John Donne is an escapist....he somehow is unable to digest this reality that he too will die some day!!he tries to avoid the universal truth of life i.e death...every1 has to go sooner or later....
Our literature sir has explained this poem very nicely...
Sidra and Fareeha

| Posted on 2008-03-27 | by a guest

.: My views abt death....... :.

Well according to my view point is that John Donne is an escapist....he somehow is unable to digest this realty that he too will dry some day!!he tries to avoid the universal truth of life i.e death...every1 has to go sooner or later....
Our literature sir has explained this poem very nicely...
Sidra and Fareeha

| Posted on 2008-03-27 | by a guest

.: Death Be Not Proud :.

Donne's attitude towards Death is one of belittlement as he insults Death's pride and attacks, or even mocks, the idea that it is fearsome and powerful at all. He personifies Death in order to berate it and point out that it is not as "Mighty and dreadful" as often believed to be. This is because he believes there is life after death and therefore there is nothing to be afraid of in dying.
The poem is ended with the paradox, "Death, thou shalt die." which suggests that Death is self defeating in it's sole purpose because after Death, Death is no more, in the sense that it is not present in the 'eternal afterlife'.
This text can be described as a "Christian Poem" because it describes how, after one "short sleep", "we wake eternally". The "short sleep" being the moment of death the eternal wake, an implication that there is life after death, and is a reference to the Christian idea of Heaven, and one's soul travelling there after death.

| Posted on 2008-02-17 | by a guest

.: Death.. :.

is being anthropomorphized and being addressed as an equal, until Donne finally makes him inferior. Due to his religious background, he believes there will be an afterlife and can, therefore, allow himself not to fear death.

| Posted on 2008-01-30 | by a guest

.: english :.

idk... im also doind a paper on this poem and i guess it just depends on how you look at it. it could show that Donne is afraid but at the same time it shows that hes not. it sertainly does show that he was mad at death for the loss of his family but death has no control. Its just fate n unlike kings n queens death has ne conrtol of who is and who isnt going to die. That death is only a character of the end of life for the body but not for the soul...

| Posted on 2008-01-29 | by a guest

.: :.

Death Be Not Proud is a poem denouncing the power of death. Death is only a character in the play, so to speak, and not a main one at that. He can not simply come and take a soul without aid, therefore he is a slave. Donne gives death it's own personality, to make Death seem more humble, as if he is just one of "us" and not a higher power, capable of being better or greater than anyone walking down the street.

| Posted on 2007-12-10 | by a guest

.: death be not proud :.

the poem raises question over death's superiority over human.Donne insert the Christian believe of life after death which in no less manner lessen power of death.Indeed death is not terrifying because it under the control kings desperate and does not determine who should die but carry out their orders.Stiggywizzle

| Posted on 2007-11-29 | by a guest

.: Analysis :.

(Sorry for the language mistakes)
First of all i am analyzing this poem with the facts of; 1) John Donne was a person, who had so many deaths in his family 2) He had strong religious beliefs. So, i think he was really sad about the deaths of his family, and decided to handle it differntly. AFter couple of his family members died, he could not handle it and started to turn the table and criticise death as a poor thing. According to his point of view, death cannot even choose. It is just a slave which only does the action. He used his religious beliefs to weaken the Death itself. He thought that, according to his religious beliefs, Death will be dead when i will pass to the eternal life so i should not be sad about deaths of my family. Death should be the one who has to be sad, not me.

Think this issue from your point of view. For example if you see that u can not do anything for deaths in your family and these deaths are making you really sad. Then you can decide to look death in a different way because at some point you wont be able to get over it. It ruins your life if you always get so sad after each death of your children and your wife. So i think he decided to consider death in a different way and his religious beliefs helped him out to find one.

A.C.T.

| Posted on 2007-11-14 | by a guest

.: What i thnk... :.

I believe it means that we should not be afraid of death because in the end its powerless against us...death relies on war, famine, destiny...etc in order to fullfil his deed. In other words death is powerless without the things that lead to it, therefore death has no power of its own and for that we should not fear it.

| Posted on 2007-10-08 | by a guest

.: interpretations :.

I reckon it obvious... the Christian belief in life after death (possibly prodistant as well but i don't know) , i eternal life leading to deaths death, and then the belief by christians in the apocalypse.. the death of all living creatures at once. If everyone dies, no-one is left 2 die and Death will itself cease 2 exist. Just another thought...

| Posted on 2007-09-18 | by a guest

.: Think about it... :.

John Donne was a Christian. In Christianity, the faithful believe there is eternal life after death and many look forward to their promise of eternal life: that is, life in Heaven with God. Yes, Donne suffered great loss in his life on earth: his wife and children's deaths, but he probably anticipated they would await him in the after life, so when he died, they would be reunited. I do not believe he feared death, but personified it because it was real to him. However, it would not claim him for eternity because he was faithful and believed he would live in eternity with his family in Heaven. The reference to kings, et al, is simply that they had the power to condemn people to death for whatever crimes they might have committed. I believe his poem was not only for his own benefit (to reconcile his feelings about losing his family members with his faith), but also for the benefit of others who face imminent death, perhaps because facing something tangible (Death personified) is easier than facing something intangible (death as an abstract).

| Posted on 2007-08-12 | by a guest

.: Hmmph! :.

Firstly, the dominant reading of this poem is that Donne is challenging/mocking Death, who he has personified in order to weaken.

As far as I know, Donne wasn't a political poet; he wrote about love, death, the soul, religion, the universe (ie "no man is an island" - which means, we're all connected) etc - topics that metaphysical poets were concerned with, therefore he wasn't appealing to the monarchs of the time.

also, someone said Henry VIII was after Donne's time - NOO!!! Hello! This dude is the one who separated England from the papacy (~pope and Catholic Church) and made the monarch the supreme head of the church in England. In case you didn't know, Donne was a Catholic and some of his family were persecuted/martyred because of their faith. For example, Sir/Saint Thomas More (Anne's (John Donne's wife) relative) was a Catholic martyr. Also, Donne studied at both Cambridge and Oxford Uni, but because he refused to swear the Oath of Supremacy (basically this would have denounced his Catholicism) as required at graduation, he didn't ever get any degrees. Yes, so point is that King Henry VIII (28 June 1491 – 28 January 1547) LIVED before Donne, NOT after him.

The main monarchs however, during his life were King James I (who died on March 27 1625) and King Charles I who suceeded him.

John Donne's numerous illnesses, financial strain, and the deaths of his friends all contributed to the development of a more somber and pious tone in his later poems. The man was obsessed with death, as most metaphysical poets were - for all its allures and mysteries, and of course, being a religious man and having faced the deaths of 5 of his children, his wife and the 15-year-old Elizabeth Drury (to name a few) he had to put his thoughts into words.

In fact, even as he lay dying on Lent in 1631, he got up to deliver his Death's Duel sermon, which was later described as his own funeral sermon.

So, there should not even be the shadow of a doubt that this poem is about Donne confronting death the only way he knows how - through writing.

However, it is important to note that his Holy Sonnets were never dated (as far as I know) and thus, one can only assume that he's writing after his wife's death.

My interpretation of the poem is as follows:

Death don't be proud, you aren't powerful or terrifying
For those who think you are (powerful and terrifying), you do conquet them OR
(DEPENDING ON HOW YOU READ THE POEM IN TERMS OF SYNTAX)
Those people you took away aren't actually conquered and you can;t conquer me
na na na....
then, death you're just an extension of sleep
Sleep isn't painful, it's rejuvenating and thus death isn't painful and it rejuvenates the spirit for the after-life
Death, you're at the beck and call of fate, chance etc
And with poison, war and sickness we pass on as well
--> this disempowers death as it can't act alone, it needs an accomplice
opium and hypnosis also can make us sleep,so id death is so powerful, why can these substances also reduce us to sleeping?
dying is just one deep sleep or the middle stage (or bridge) between life and the after-life
in this after-life, "death thou shalt die" because you can't die twice, and these souls are in heaven (or wherever forever)

Basically Donne mocks death, and sometimes pities it. it's hard to tell whether he's afraid of his own imminent death or is remaining hopeful after his own wife's death - can't really tell what Donne's intentions were, only use what the text offers and seems to say.

Aussie Chick

| Posted on 2007-07-16 | by a guest

.: Hmm.... :.

This poem, as many of you have stated is about the afterlife. The short and simple of the poem's meaning is that Death which is personified in order to take away some of the mystery of death and give it a corporeal state, is nothing more than a nap. It is simply a really long rest before the afterlife. One short sleep past, we wake eternally/ And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die. There's the thesis, it's really easy to find. We sleep for a little while and when that has passed we wake eternally. Since we wake eternally there is no need for death so death will be no more. I don't know where some of you people got the reference to the King and Queen. King Henry III was several generations before John Donne. Donne wasn't even alive during Henry VIII's reign. If you don't know your history then don't try and use it. Oh, and if you’re going to attempt and give a real critique of the poem then use your spell check. No one is going to take you seriously if you spell because “bcuz”.

| Posted on 2007-06-26 | by a guest

.: Holy Sonnet #6 :.

What John Donne is saying here is that Death has no reason to be proud because all of the qualities he posesses that cause people to fear him should hold no terror whatsoever.

Because Donne believed in an afterlife, he says that the people that Death 'overthrows' don't really die because they are subject to eternal life in God's kingdom.

Furthermore, sleep and rest are but 'pictures' of Death, meaning that Death must be even more relaxing. When our 'best men' go with Death, they are freed from the mortal world and their souls are delivered to God.

To Donne, Death does not posess a will of his own, but rather is a 'slave'. He does not choose who dies, he simply admisters the stroke of death when it is called for by 'fate, chance, kings and desperate men'.

The aforementioned sleep of Death is also not as beneficial as that which is caused by poppy (opium/morphine) or charms and therefore Death has no reason to 'swell' with pride.

The concluding couplet states that when Death is finished his petty works, the only thing to die is Death, for 'we wake eternally' while Death, who cannot kill us again, dies.

| Posted on 2007-06-05 | by a guest

.: :.

I love poetry, its kind of like well a way to wipe your nose when you sick. In other word a way to rid you of your inner sickness, a passionate poise of sandwiches that are dipped in wendy's ranch dressing

peace

8====----- (|)(penis cumming into a pussy)

| Posted on 2007-06-04 | by a guest

.: :.

hi guys
the whole king thing... i think we got a bit side tracked there, (except his brother died in prison i think, maybe something to do with treason to the king in terms religious beliefs, protestants vs anglicanism blah blah blah) when Donne eventually did die he was very prepared for it- as seen in the last sermon he gave. He wasn't at all afraid (at least not discernibly). He used his poems as a means of therapy, to consolidate his faith in his mind- after all switching from catholicism to anglicanism and back again can make one doubt one's professed beliefs- writing them down made them more concrete. Donne personifies death because this puts him in a position of weakness, an idea which is strengthened by the mocking "poor death" and the fact that death is a salve to fate, kings and desperate men. the ending couplet is characteristic of Donne's use of metaphysical paradox- when Death finally does "win" he loses his ability to exert influence over Donne (or any other of Death's victims) even if there is no after life (but Donne stoutly believes there is) you cannot die twice. Death has one moment of power and that's it.

| Posted on 2007-06-04 | by a guest

.: ? :.

First of all, I'm French, so sorry for teh mistakes..
I Have to comment Death be not proud for my English class, and, by reading all your comments, I was wondeting if maybe Donne tries to mock and defy Death because he won't die as long as his writings will prevail. Well, you guys seem all to have your own point of view, but just think about it !



| Posted on 2007-05-11 | by a guest

.: :.

John Donne's Death, Be Not Proud, he is explaining how he is not scared of Death. It shows that no one should be scared of death because it is going to happen to everyone. The poem addresses Death as a person because usually people are scared of things they can actually see. At the end of the poem "Death, thou shalt die", shows death comes, comma, then after you die, whats to be scared of? You die, pause, then go on to the afterlife. Why be affraid of Death if one is going to have eternal life?
-sunny maestas- colorado

| Posted on 2007-05-10 | by a guest

.: :.

'kay. I don't think yuo frioends is purely interpreting the base matrials like is expected of superior interepreters of litiriture li,ke myself. It doont matter if he was talking about kings and queens and other playing cardsz (hah I iz funny) but wat mattirs is dat you learnd lots of things from reeding his peom and enkoyed his words. its like riding a bicycle, you can't always get what you want, live for the moment and look before you leap.

| Posted on 2007-04-17 | by a guest

.: John Donne :.

Don't you see! John Donne is afraid of Death due to the fact that following his wifes death, he became homosexual. John Donne wrote this poem to comfort himself even though he had palpable problems regarding his religion. Donne only disparages Death for his own social and mental advantage.

| Posted on 2007-03-31 | by a guest

.: My Thoughts :.

Ok the poem states that Death is a slave to fate, which is saying that death cannot work on his own but that fate tells Death when to work on others and Death is only like a portal where your bones dwell but your soul is there for only a short time then, you will pass into eternal life.

| Posted on 2007-03-19 | by a guest

.: i am mine :.

this poem in many was has inspired us all which is what its all about,its your own perception of life which is exactly what the poet whanted, its his interpretation of being alive whether thers after life or not he's got you thinking, we all know we going to die and sure his saying death be not proud but there will never be pride in "death" but there will be in life, no matter how short it will be it will last you a lifetime so be proud ,you one step ahead of death .the poem can mean what you want it to mean as long as you can relate ,and who would of though we could be so inspired buy death ?

| Posted on 2007-03-03 | by a guest

.: Death be not proud :.

We are year 10 at a school in England. We are boys.
If people aren't scared of death then death has no power. (Napoelon)
I think the sorta case to be made that he was drunk when he wrote this poem - you know when people get drunk hey shout slurred arguments at people. He's lost the plot completely and is having a go at death for taking his five kids. (Whatever!)
There is nothing to do with kings or queens!! So death can only be controlled by kings who have the power to execute or send people into battle. (Whalli and Joe)
Donne might be in denial about the strength of death and might be fighting to try and get back as much as he can against death -- you're not so strong Death coz he's angry at Death for taking his wife. He's defying Death. He's angry (Adam)

He's clearly being an idiot because he says Death can't kill him. (Jame)

He's dead!!! (Josh)

Because he was a minister, he talks about the afterlife and stuff, so he believes in life after death. (Jonathan)




| Posted on 2007-03-01 | by a guest

.: :D :.

He most likely fears death, but he tries to explain that its not that bad. By dying we destroy death. Now how does this make sense, well look at John Donne for example. He is dead, yet now he is immortal. We will remember him for centuries to come =P

| Posted on 2007-02-20 | by a guest

.: Translatory confusion! :.

Guys, guys. Some seious flaws in your translations. Line 3 to 4 states that those death kills arent actually taken away. He says in line 9 that all those factors control death and have power over it. Then line 10 lists the only situations in which death has control, diminishing its power.

And the 3rd last line, he is saying that opium and and hypnosis have the same effect, and are probably are more beneificial than death's touch.

Hope it clears up any confusion.

| Posted on 2007-02-12 | by a guest

.: :.

Who got the idea that the donne dude is talking about the king?!

You guys look into it too much.
John Donne is TALKING to DEATH! He is telling Death not to be proud. That it is not Death who takes the lives of people, King or peasant. Everyone dies, but not by Death's hands. And once a person dies, they live eternally, and the simple idea of death, dies itself. DUH!

| Posted on 2007-02-11 | by a guest

.: Reply for Smithette :.

According to my english class, Smithette(2006-08-05) paraphrased Donne quite well. However, in the analysis you claim that Donne is perhaps fearful of death. I would just like to point out how that most likely cannot be. Donne was a Jesuit priest who took his faith very seriously. Therefore, why would someone who believes in eternal life be fearful of death? Like stated in his poem, death is just a "stop" before he reaches eternal life. He would not mind dying because then he can live in God's kingdom. Just thought you and others would like to know^_^LPG

| Posted on 2007-02-09 | by a guest

.: Reply for Smithette :.

According to my english class, Smithette(2006-08-05) paraphrased Donne quite well. However, in the analysis you claim that Donne is perhaps fearful of death. I would just like to point out how that most likely cannot be. Donne was a Jesuit priest who took his faith very seriously. Therefore, why would someone who believes in eternal life be fearful of death? Like stated in his poem, death is just a "stop" before he reaches eternal life. He would not mind dying because then he can live in God's kingdom. Just thought you and others would like to know^_^LPG

| Posted on 2007-02-09 | by a guest

.: JOHN DONNE :.

Hhhmmm i would just like to say that, some people read into poems more than they really should. I dont believe this poem is about the king and queen. Donne was not one to write poems about the superficial elements of life, he is a metaphysical poet. Many people in the forum have some valid points. Donne is indefinitely challenging death and asserting his superiority over it. He is basically denouncing the power of death, and that is merely ' one short sleep past'. DOnne is conveying that has been given a ghastly and horrifying description but ultimately thatit should not be feared at all. Donne illustrates that death is a rest for the physical body and it releases the sprit/soul. blah blah i cant be bothered crapping.
AND PEOPLE WHO ARE TALKING ABOUT THE KING AND QUEEN STUFF, TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THE POEM AND THE HISTORY OF JOHN DONNE AND U MIGHT CHANGE UR MIND

| Posted on 2006-08-05 | by Approved Guest

.: The Best :.

The best anaylsis:

.: In simple words :.

Death dont' be proud even though you pride in it.
you are not mighty or scary as some people may say.
for all those people you took away, you are still unable to take me. So don't die, poor death, before you take me away. the first 4 lines he's mocking death.

Death, you're just a picture of peace (rest and sleep).
Dying is a pleasurable state and death is full of pleasure. You eventually take away our love ones away(best men), but you're just giving their body rest and freeing their soul.
the second 4 lines he's teasing death.

Death, you're a slave to fate and to man's action.
Poison , war, sickness, and sleeping pills will kill us but then so what?
One quick moment pass and comes eternal life.
Death will be no more, in turn it's really Death's funeral when a man dies. Last 6 lines he's pitying death.

| Posted on 2006-08-05 | by Approved Guest

.: :::My analysis::: :.

Well, I've read this poem so many times for an exam I've got at the university, and all I can tell you is that maybe Donne is more afraid of death than us, because he desperately tries to find a way to say that death won't take his life away...
On the other hand he gives lots of explanations between the lines, but all in all it only makes us think about death as something that will never stop existing.
We live to die, it's the only thing that we vertainly have.
Best wishes, Smithette*

| Posted on 2006-07-02 | by Approved Guest