“Death Be Not Proud” is a classic metaphysical poem composed by John Donne in 17th century England. This poem deals with eschatological themes as the speaker's perspective is primarily religious. Man's biology dictates that he must die. Man, composed only of flesh and blood, eventually disintegrates into dust. The physical decomposition of man underlines his fragility and his fallen nature. In the multiple interpretations of death, Donne proposes his beliefs on life, death and human suffering. Aware of his mortal constitution, Donne still rejects death as being overwhelmed by the bright prospects of the afterlife. The Reformation movement left a profoundly indelible mark on the face of religious life and the belief system in England until Donne, a former Catholic, converted to Protestantism. In his poetry, Donne breaks down the pride of death and hopefully affirms that human beings pass not only from one physical state to another, but also from one world to another, leaning on the Reformation teachings of the afterlife as means of consolation and courage. We say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The English Reformation began in England in the 14th century with John Wycliffe. However, it was not until three centuries later that the Reformation took hold in England. The conflicts between the Catholic kings and the Pope and the Protestant movement led by Henry VIII gave rise to much dissent. However, it was only with Queen Elizabeth I (1556-1603) that English Protestantism took root. After her death, she appointed another Protestant king, King James I (1603-1625), to succeed her. This king is the same monarch who authorizes the printing and publication of the famous King James Version of the Bible. Religion has a preponderant role in politics and society in general. Since some believed in the divine right to rule that belonged to the monarchy, loyalty to God in some minds is equated with loyalty to the king. In the 17th century, England divorced itself from the Papacy, literally and figuratively, due to Henry VIII's displeasure that the Pope would not allow him to divorce. As a result, the state religion becomes English Catholic or Anglican. Different segments of Christians hold very different beliefs because they see the Church's flaws and urgently recognize the need for reform. The Puritans and Quakers are some of these nonconformist churches. Some laws come into force giving these nonconformist sectarian groups the freedom to practice their religion without hindrance, such as the Corporation Act (1661), the Act of Uniformity (1662), the Bill of Rights (1689) and the Toleration Act (1689). . As the Reformation continues in England and feelings of discontent with religion increase, more and more people are abandoning the traditional state religion in favor of others. This period marks the time when the English Church moved as far away from Catholicism as possible to the point, at times, of hostility (Mullet 245-55). Donne's poetry cannot be understood apart from his Reformation theology. The Reformation was founded on three main principles, sola scriptura, sola fide, and sola gratia or (by the Word alone, by faith alone, and by grace alone, respectively) (O'Collins 2004). This movement inspires many radical changes so that adherents turn to a Christ-centered belief system. As an Anglican minister, Donne incorporated his Reformed beliefs into his poetry, although he did not completely divorce himself from some Catholic teachings. Donne's theological perceptions of death are predominantly derived from the Reformers as they arerooted in the Scriptures. Largely distinct from Catholicism, Protestantism is not considered compatible with Catholic dogma. On the one hand, Catholicism embraces superstition and its worship was based on tradition, rather than the Bible, especially with doctrines such as the Eucharist, purgatory, cult of relics, cult of saints, sale of indulgences, and Latinized readings. On the other, the Reformers sought a closer relationship with God through the truth of the Bible and a renewed Church that lived by higher standards. In this religious context, believing in the truth through faith would set the believer free. Following in the footsteps of the biblical authors, Donne describes the transience of life, comparing it to a sleep (Psalm 13:3; John 11:13; 1 Corinthians 15:52-58 and 1 Thessalonians 4:15). Donne describes death as that "from rest and sleep, which but thy images are." This metaphor, employed by David, Jesus, and even the apostle Paul, demonstrates the brevity of life and at the same time the hope of eternal life in the afterlife. In this figure, death is compared to the night, while life or resurrection is symbolized by the morning. As morbid as the poem may seem, Donne exults in the power of death, as he states that it has only a fragile hold on the soul. Women and many Protestant reformers believe that when a man dies, he falls into a state of unconsciousness or sleep until the day of resurrection, when Jesus Christ returns. Alluding to the scriptures of the Christian's triumph over death through Jesus Christ, Donne refers to the oft-quoted Scripture in 1 Corinthians 15:54, 55. Here Paul states that “death has been swallowed up in victory/55 O death, where is the your sting? O grave, where is your victory?” The brevity of death's grasp is likened to "a short sleep" and its defeat on the cross is the believer's hope. Here, Donne rejects the idea that death is a desperate and eternal finality; he chooses instead to rejoice in what comes after death. The resurrection of the dead is the reason behind Donne's boasting and is central to his confident hope in this poem. Serving as the poem's punchline located in the last line of the last stanza, Donne urges the Protestant belief that after "a little sleep passed, we shall awake eternally." This line runs parallel to the Scripture which declares that “We shall not all sleep,…For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” Donne's faith is rooted in the eternal life promised to Christian believers that God will awaken those who fall asleep in death to be resurrected to live in their heavenly home. He believes that whoever believes in Jesus will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). The eternity before him transcends the brief sleep of the dead in the grave. To diminish the stature of death in the poem, Donne's use of personification, irony, and sarcasm is discerned to accomplish his provocation about death's lack of power over him. Death is personified as an unknown character; however, this being could be any of the members of the Greco-Roman pantheon including Hades, Proserpina, Ceres, Proserpina, Pluto, or even Satan. The speaker of the poem addresses death as someone who "thinks", thus attributing to it one of the highest qualities of humanity: reason. Death plagues the land with a curse against the living while its boast remains unchallenged and no one escapes its grasp. Donne enumerates Death's associates as “poison,” “disease,” “war,” “destiny,” and “chance.” Personifying death allows him to enter into dialogue with death. Because of Death's unwanted sinister and deadly influence, the speaker chooses to blame it, oppose it, mock it, and.