Death

“Death be not proud, though some have called thee mighty and dreadful, thou are not so” (Done).

Death

One of the top subjects for writers throughout the course of history has been the devastating effect of death on humans.

Donne tells us that the soul will live forever. Death, humble yourself because you are a small part of life. Death only has control over the physical aspect of a human. thou then?

One sort sleep past, we wake eternally

And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die. In “Holly Sonnet,” Donne, informs Death not to be arrogant over victory. When everyone has gone through his moment of death and then has risen, “death, thou shalt die” (Donne). John Donne exploits this in saying death only “seems” to win. Robert Browning also speaks of death in his poem “Prospice” but, unlike Donne, Browning talks of death as the final challenge, one in which he must face straight on. Why should we fear something that makes us sleep like drugs and caters that the orders of others?

Death claims the greatest men when they’re too tired to live. “Holy sonnet 10” gives us power over Death and reassurance that it is not to be feared. In the end Death, itself will be banished forever from the land of the living. We are given reasons why death is so insignificant and why it should be humbled.