Death Be Not Proud Tone

John Donne’s famous sonnet, “Death, Be Not Proud,” was published in 1633 shortly after his death. Donne’s transition from the Catholic religion to Anglicanism was greatly portrayed in many of his religious work. “Death, Be Not Proud” was no acceptation to this concept. “Death, Be Not Proud” was written in order to portray Donne’s belief in an afterlife, and to portray how the final destination in life is not death but rather a place in the afterlife. His poem, “Death, Be Not Proud, portrays the message that Death is not as almighty as he believes due to Death being a delivery man for souls between life and the afterlife. Donne’s belief on how Death is nothing to fear because an afterlife awaits us after death is seen through the poem’s structure,

The powerful imagery within “Death, Be Not Proud” allows Donne to degrade Death’s belief that he is this almighty being. The imagery on how Death is just a delivery man gives Death an illustration on how he is a slave, which is reinforced when Donne describes how he is a slave to faith and other aspects of human nature. This language tears down the image of Death so he can bring up the idea of afterlife and eternity later on. The tone of the poem also gives way to how afterlife is much more important than Death. The tone of the poem along with the language used gives “Death, Be Not Proud” to seem as though someone is talking to Death and explains why Death should not be proud of the things he does. The tone in Donne’s poem is that of seriousness, hope, and optimistic towards the idea of an afterlife. It creates the atmosphere on how there is a greater life beyond just death, an afterlife. Donne’s use of powerful imagery and powerful arguments creates the effect that Death is nothing to us, for he can no longer haunt us after our souls reach the