"Death be not proud", John Donne

Emma Thompson

Herbert J.C. Grierson, ed. (1886–1960). Metaphysical Lyrics & Poems of the 17th C.  1921.

John Donne

72. "Death be not proud, though some have called thee"

DEATH be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadfull, for, thou art not so,
For, those, whom thou think'st, thou dost overthrow,
Die not, poore death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
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.
Explanation Holy Sonnet 10, "Death be not proud" The sonnet “Death Be Not Proud”, written by John Donne in England around the year 1618, is one sonnet of nineteen that are part of a collection entitled The Holy Sonnets. Through the use of literary terms and techniques, “Death, Be Not Proud”, exemplifies the popular Christian philosophy of the period, that heaven is eternal. “Death Be Not Proud” presents an argument against the power of death. Addressing Death as a person, the speaker warns Death against pride in his power. Such power is merely an illusion, and the end Death thinks it brings to men and women is in fact a rest from world-weariness for its alleged “victims.” The poet criticizes Death as a slave to other forces: fate, chance, kings, and desperate men. Death is not in control, for a variety of other powers exercise their volition in taking lives. Even in the rest it brings, Death is inferior to drugs. Finally, the speaker predicts the end of Death itself, stating “Death, thou shalt die.”   You're not an idiot, it's a hard poem to understand. Donne is saying that although Death (it's easier if you understand death as a person in this poem) thinks he's something special, because he has the power to take life, really, he's not. Why? Because he must take everyone - whether they're kings or desperate men. So that means he's really a slave to every single man or woman, and so isn't really powerful. Not only that - his only real companions are sickness and poison. Donne also points out that opiates (poppies) or medicines can make us sleep just as well as death, so there's no reason death should gloat - his powers are not unique. Finally, he points out that although Death can take our life, after a short sleep, we go to God, where we live forever. And when that happens, Death ceases to exist.   "wit" Arabic translation wit {noun} wit {noun} (also: wits, ingeniousness, cleverness) الذكاء {m}   Synonyms Synonyms (English) for "wit": brain · brainpower · learning ability · mental capacity · mentality · humor · humour · witticism · wittiness · wag · card   Usage examples Similar translations for "wit" in Arabic He is a man of wit. .هو رجل حكمة Similar words wisp · Wisps · wispy · wistaria · Wister · wisteria · wistful · wistfully · wistfulness · wistly · wit · witan · witch · witchcraft · witchcrafts · witched · witcheries · witchery · witches · witchhazel · witchhunt