John Donne

In the poem "Death be not Proud," John Donne explores the complicated idea of death. The speaker explains that death should not be proud because it is not actually dreadful. In fact, the poem teaches that often the best men die first so that they may be rewarded by receiving eternal rest. The speaker says that death cannot kill him. This statement is made because the speaker is a Christian, and Christians have eternal life. Death is not a frightening concept for Christ followers. The poem even suggest that death should be considered a pleasurable experience. This idea comes from the fact that sleep, a lesser copy of death, is enjoyable. The poem seems to present death as something that should be pitied because it is subject to men and fate. When Christians receive eternal life, death essentially dies itself because it loses all power and influence over men. The form of this poem is a traditional sonnet. There is a simple rhyme scheme.