Poetry analysis: Death, Be not Proud, by John Donne

By admin · Thursday, August 20th, 2009

The Author

“Death, Be not Proud, though some have called thee” was written by John Donne (1572 1631) who lived most of his life in wealth and prestige. Donne attended Oxford and Lincoln’s Inn Law School but did not obtain a law degree nor did he practice law. No doubt his education, travels and insatiable reading prepared him for a promising position in the court. In 1615 he served as a priest in the Anglican Church. He is considered to be one of the most powerful orators of all times. He was certainly popular with his congregation who was deeply moved with his inspirational, intellectual and authoritative sounding sermons. At the time of his death in 1631 Donne was Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral in London.

John Donne would probably have enjoyed lifelong prestige, social standing and advancement in the court if not for his one big mistake: He secretly married his wife, an aristocrat, and he was not one. At the time Donne was the private secretary to Lord Keeper, Sir Thomas Egerton for two years. Because he married Anne Moore the niece of Lady Egerton, he fell out of favor and enjoyed no promotions in the court. His one consolation was that his love was very much requited and they had a loving marriage as evidenced by some of his works. Soon after his marriage, Donne left the Catholic Church of England and in 1615 joined the Anglican Church.

Donne is considered a metaphysical poet in the Elizabethan period. Metaphysical poets analyzed love, religion and life from a psychological point of view. His works also gave physical attributes to inanimate things and ideas. His form was that of subtleness and thought and points out many of life’s contradictions. Sonnet 10, “Death, Be not Proud” reveals some of these attributes. This poem is in his “Songs and Sonnets” which was published in 1634, two years after his death. However, Donne’ work was not well known until 1912 when a scholar’s edition of his Holy Sonnets was published. He is still recognized as one of the most original poets in any language.

Analysis:

John Donne addresses Death as one would speak to a foe, harassing employee, or even an annoying bully who is too weak and without power to deliver his/her threats. Donne tells Death that he should not be so arrogantly proud even though some have made him think he is mighty and one to be feared. He points out to Death that he is far from being any of those things.

He goes on to tell Death that even though he thinks he succeeded in overthrowing

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