Death, Be Not Proud : Quotations
Death, Be Not Proud is a notable literary work by John Donne. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of Death, Be Not Proud.
Quotations
“Death, be not proud,
The speaker is talking to Death. He says Death should not be proud. Because Death is not powerful or scary, rather, it is peaceful, like sleep.
“Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,”
John Donne further belittles Death with this line. He says Death is not free. It cannot act on its own. Death is dependent on things like fate, luck, kings’ order of executions, and suicide.
“One short sleep past, we wake eternally
And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.”
Donne says Death is like a short sleep. And after this sleep, we will wake up and live eternally in heaven. There will be no more Death. Death will die there.