Table of Contents
Holy Sonnet
Describe and Compare the Theme of Death as Explained in Death
Be Not Proud by John Donne and Sonnet 71 by William Shakespeare
The two poems provide a complete contrast as regard Death. Death Be Not Proud is written by a Christian Minister (John Donne) and is therefore based on a religious theme, inclusive of the idea of an afterlife. The second poem however is written by William Shakespeare and is a secular poem, and deals with Death as a physical reality, which is unavoidable. Shakespeare writes more negatively and makes Death powerful, whereas Death Be Not Proud gives more hope and is written as if Death is a person, to make Deathless powerful and mortal.
Throughout the entire poem, Donne speaks directly to Death. He personifies what to Man, has always been a spirit, and has never been touched, seen, or furthermore killed. He gives Death life (a person) and therefore makes it mortal, exposing it to pain, torment, and eventually defeat.
In the first four lines of the poem, John Donne aggressively and directly addresses Death, his tone critical and belittling. He begins by saying,
Death be not proud? for thou art, not so?
