Holy Sonnet 10 (Death be not proud) - John Donne
/Holy Sonnet 10 (Death be not proud) - John Donne/
A Bold Rejection of Death’s Supposed Power
Note: Below is John Donne’s “Holy Sonnet 10” in its entirety (public domain). Each line is presented twice—original Early Modern English, then repeated—since the original and modern are effectively the same for this text.
Original (Early Modern English) / Modern English (Identical Text)
Death, be not proud, though some have called thee
Death, be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;
Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;
For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow,
For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow,
Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be,
From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be,
Much pleasure, then from thee much more must flow,
Much pleasure, then from thee much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee do go,
And soonest our best men with thee do go,
Rest of their bones, and soul's delivery.
Rest of their bones, and soul's delivery.
Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,
Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell,
And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell,
And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well
And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well
And better than thy stroke; why swell'st thou then?
And better than thy stroke; why swell'st thou then?
One short sleep past, we wake eternally,
One short sleep past, we wake eternally,
And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.
And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.
In “Holy Sonnet 10,” commonly known as “Death be not proud,” John Donne confronts Death as though it were a boastful enemy that needs to be humbled. Structurally, this poem is a 14-line sonnet, and it advances a direct address—an apostrophe—to Death itself. Throughout, Donne employs a mixture of religious faith, logical reasoning, and vivid metaphors to dismantle Death’s presumed authority.
The poem begins by challenging any notion that Death is “Mighty and dreadful,” pointing out that those who succumb to Death do not truly die. Donne draws parallels between Death, sleep, and rest: while sleep grants us comfort and peace, Death is merely a more profound extension of that repose. From a Christian perspective, Death becomes a passage rather than a termination, leading to eternal life.
Donne next portrays Death as subservient rather than sovereign—“slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men.” He emphasizes that Death depends on earthly forces like war, disease, and misfortune for its effect, and that opium (“poppy”) or “charms” can induce a sleep that is just as potent, thus trivializing Death’s hold. By implying that human interventions can replicate Death’s function, Donne undercuts its perceived might.
The poem moves to its defining conceit in the final lines: “One short sleep past, we wake eternally.” Here, Donne merges his spiritual convictions with a triumphant tone. If, through faith, people believe in an afterlife, then Death becomes a mere interruption, vanquished by eternal awakening. The final phrase, “Death, thou shalt die,” seals Donne’s argument, in which Death’s own demise is inevitable.
Donne’s unique style—emphasizing paradoxes and abrupt shifts—reinforces the idea that Death is not the end. Instead, it becomes a gateway to an everlasting state. His confident tone invites readers to question how we’ve traditionally feared or revered Death, offering instead a bold, hopeful reassurance that Death is neither to be glorified nor dreaded.
Overall, “Holy Sonnet 10” turns a solemn subject into a spirited confrontation: Donne’s intellect and faith serve to ‘unmask’ Death’s threat as hollow. Even centuries after its composition, these verses resonate as a defiant affirmation of hope, diminishing our fear of mortality by framing Death as a negligible interlude on the path to eternity.
Key points
• Challenges the perception of Death’s power and finality.
• Equates Death with rest and sleep, implying it offers no real threat.
• Places Death under the dominion of human and worldly forces, rather than as an absolute ruler.
• Ends with the resolute claim that Death itself will eventually be undone.
