Blog #5

Death, be not proud by John Donne

Many find death to be frightful and distressing, but in the poem Death, be not proud, by John Donne, death is looked at quite differently. Instead of death being seen as all powerful and mighty, death is compared to calm sleep. Donne makes the point that death does not actually kill, but brings people to eternal life. Donne vocalizes that death does not bring pain like some many believe, but actually bring pleasure in the form of the afterlife. Donne really makes a stab at death when he reveals that death really has no power at all. Any man could poison himself or kill himself. It really isn't up to death when will die, but is in the power of man. Donne states, "One short sleep passed, we wake eternally"(Donne, 972). This quote reveals that humans will experience a short death, but when they will awake they will live forever. It will be as if death itself has finally died. Therefore, people should fear death, for death truly has no power over people at all.