Emily Dickinson Death Be Not Proud

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John Donne’s “Death, be not proud” and Emily Dickinson’s “Because I did not stop for death” discuss the same topic, death, and hold two differences and one similarity. The poems disagree on death’s power and heaven, and agree on the comprehension of time after death. Donne vehemently argues against legitimacy of Death’s authority, while Dickinson does not. Dickinson’s argued against heaven, but Donne stated advocation of its existence. After multiple disagreements, both poets supported a difference in a human’s grasp of time while facing death. While each poet’s creation share a their main theme, they hold differing and similar views. Death’s absolute authority is “Because I did not stop for death” premise, but “Death, be not proud” holds an opposing theory. The two poems’ titles base themselves on the poets’ views on its power. Dickinson treats Death as a being taking life and its achievements with ease. Her title, “Because I did not stop for death”, displays the reaper that controls every humans’ life for the eternity after death. Portrayal of death in Donne’s mind was an entity of little significance and no power. It was vanquished and only exists in a temporary state humans experience. Both poems challenge the other’s viewpoint in death’s influence. …show more content…

Dickinson never accounted the obscure stage during a human’s passing, because of disbelief translating in her works. Instead, she wrote of a journey with death towards an eternity leading nowhere. Opposite of her actions, Donne mentions a second chance of life in “Death, be not proud”. Clearly stating, “One short sleep past, we wake eternally And death shall be no more;” he disagrees with Dickinson’s atheist views (Donne). Each poet held opinions on the controversial topic and opposed the other’s