Metaphysical features of John Donnes Death Be Not Proud

John Donne is the pioneer of metaphysical poetry which is highly intellectual and
contains paradoxes, conceits, metaphors, imagery etc. Metaphysical poets write about things
which are permeated with uncertainty like life, death, god, consciousness and everything that
is beyond physical. In Death Be Not Proud Donne is trying to change the way people usually
perceive death by denying its power and giving it a mere transitional purpose.
He starts by scornfully and confidently advising Death not to be proud because it is
not powerful as it seems to be: Death, be not proud, though some have called thee Mighty and
dreadful, for thou art not so. It seems as though he is addressing a person. It might be so
because it is easier to confront something that has a familiar shape and form. The fear of
death, which is in human nature, is actually the ultimate fear of the unknown; therefore this
personified death may be seen as less threatening. Putting these lines right at the beginning of
the poem gives the reader comfort and a sense of hope. It creates an optimistic atmosphere. In
third and fourth line Donne claims that Death has not actually killed anyone and that it cannot
kill him either: For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow, Die not, poor Death, nor
yet canst thou kill me. It seems as if he almost feels sorry for Death and its frailty and naivety.
Then he compares Death with sleep: From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be, Much
pleasure, then from thee, much more must flow. He suggests that sleeping is only a picture or a
shadow of being dead and that being dead is that much better and more comfortable than
sleeping. It is another way of stripping Death of its powers. He assures the reader that there is
no point in being afraid of Death when it is something that gives pleasure and serenity. In the
next two lines Donne states that as soon as Death takes the best people it delivers their souls
to God: And soonest our best men with thee do go, Rest of their bones, and souls delivery. It
may be indicating that people who are good and honest during their lives reach God first. It
also seems as if Death is doing something good but is not even aware of it. Death leads people
to afterlife in which they enjoy with God eternally. Here the reader can see his understanding

of death as a necessary stage before reaching the glory of heaven, the promised life with God
(Oliver). A comparison between life, sleep, death and afterlife can be made. Life is at the
bottom of the scale which means it only gets better from here. In the ninth and tenth lines
Donne criticizes Death again: Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men, And
dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell. Death is not free, it depends on fate and chance
because people are either destined to die or they die by chance. Kings also have power to use
death because they can decide whether someone dies or not. Desperate men might refer to
people who commit suicide. Poison, war and sickness are appalling and it is a disgrace to be
connected to them, as Death is. In lines eleven and twelve the reader might be under the
impression that Donne is undecided because first he portrays Death as something which is
better than the sleep and then says that poppies can make us sleep as well, even better than
Death: And poppy, or charms can make us sleep as well And better than thy stroke; why
swell'st thou then? The last two lines are a total defeat of Death: One short sleep past, we
wake eternally, And Death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die. Donne sums up the whole
poem in those lines by saying that when people die they sleep for a while and then wake up
and live forever with God. Donne ends this poem with a paradox Death dies and triumph
over Death lingers around the reader. Donne mounts an impressive tirade against death,
culminating in a celebration of its lack of power (Oliver).
Throughout this analysis many metaphysical features are seen, the biggest of all being
the theme: death. Donne raises existential questions and encourages people to live their lives
fully and without any fear of Death because it is not permanent. Probably his near-death
experience inspired him to meditate on death and write this poem. As Soren Kierkegaard said:
What is a poet? An unhappy person who conceals profound anguish in his heart but whose
lips are so formed that as sighs and cries pass over them they sound like beautiful music.

Works cited:
1. Antonio S. Oliver Views of Death in Donnes Poetry. Luminarium
2. Donne, John Poems of John Donne Vol 1., E. K. Chambers, ed, London: Lawrence &
Bullen, 1896. 162-163.