'John Donne’s poems: Holy Sonnet 10 and Meditation 17 Essay\r'

'Donne’s put on of death is not one of a cynic. He is a man who regards death not as the final battle of life, yet rather in the Christian sense, of it being just a budge of the soul from the earthly plain to its final destination. He considers death not to be an eventidet to be held in disquietude, but one that is to be understood.\r\nHe believes so strongly in this philosophy that in Sonnet 10, he instructs people not to fear death. He insults death, individualifying it as a person who has a far immenseer news report than he has earned. He tells death not to pride itself in its reputation of a â€Å"mighty and dreadful” horror even though regarded so by some, as it is goose egg more than an extended cat sleep. He reduces death to a very low level, associating it with poison, war and sickness. He progress insults it by commenting on how it does not operate with destitute will. It is confined to the boundaries set by fate, chance, Kings, and desperate men. M oreover, drugs of poppy and childlike charms can provide the same sleeping erect , if not better; and sleep is such a great source of pleasure, why would anyone be loth to embrace it? Death is not something to be feared or to be held in awe. â€Å"One short sleep past, [humanity wakes] eternally” to the beauty of afterlife, which is far better a life than any human is experiencing presently.\r\nIn contrast, In Meditation 17, Donne does not imply that death is feared by some, or that it is thought to have monumental power. He comments more on the effect it has on humanity. He compares life to a book, comparing each person to a chapter in this great book of life. Again, he regards death not as the end of life, but a beginning of a new one. He parallels it to the translation of each chapter to a different language, the language of the afterlife, with each chapter awaiting the inevitable translation. And since death is just a translation, wisdom can, and must be gained from i t. Donne regards death not as a harm to the person afflict by it, but as a loss to humanity as a whole, who have addled a small, but vital part of the community. Therefore, the hinderance of death must be shared by all, and by sharing this grief, it is Donne’s opinion that a treasure of God’s goodwill and fellowship will be gained.\r\nDonne thinks that death is not that great of a hurdle. It is a mere stepping-stone in the extremity of eternal happiness. God uses death only as the transition from Earth to heaven, so it is something to be look and to strive to prepare for by all.\r\n'