“Death, be not proud” by John Donne
This poem employs personification when referring to death. It
refers to death being proud and overthrowing people. For example, “For those
whom thou think’st thou dost overthrow.” Personification of death contributes
to the poems meaning by emphasizing that we should not fear death. The fear of
death can create anxiety within people. It can act as a person when it is
thought of and worried about in people’s lives, which often results in fear. The
poem expresses that it knows death is coming and that there is no reason to
fear it. The speaker is trying to convince himself that there is nothing to be
feared in death. For example, “Die not, poor death, nor yet canst thou kill me.”
The tone of this line shows that there is a hint of hesitation and fearfulness
of death. The speaker convinces his or herself to not fear death because there
is eternal life afterwards, so we never truly die.
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