Meditation 17 is a book by John Donne. It was published in 1624. The book is a collection of meditations, which are spiritual reflections on various topics. Meditation 17 is one of the most famous and well-known meditations in the book. It is about death, and it reflects on the transitory nature of life.
The meditation begins with the line “No man is an island.” This line is often quoted, and it reflects the idea that we are all connected to each other, and that we all depend on each other. The meditation goes on to reflect on death, and how it is something that we all must face. It also reflects on the idea that death is not the end, but simply a part of life.
John Donne handles the subject of “Meditation 17” with precision in his poem, “The Ecstasy.” He claims that we are all a part of the whole in which everyone’s actions influence one other.
The poem is primarily about how the death of one person is connected to the lives of others. The Meditation begins with the famous line “No man is an island.” This phrase means that no one can exist completely independently; everyone relies on others in some way. Donne supports this claim by saying that even the meanest and most useless person serves some purpose in the world.
He then goes on to say that if a clod of earth were to be removed from the ground, it would cause a hole. Just as a small change can have a big effect, the death of one person affects not just his family and friends, but also society as a whole. The Meditation ends with the idea that we should live our lives in such a way that our deaths would benefit others. While death is inevitable, we can choose how to live our lives.
The tolling of a bell during someone’s death indirectly affects those around, even though they may not know it is for them. The ringing reminder of death alerts us to our own mortality, and how close we are to the end. There are no atheists at life’s end because we are born dying. As we come to this realization, we often fear what lies beyond death.
The Meditation is about how death should not be feared, because once we die, “we shall be no more; death hath so wrought upon them.” The thoughts expressed in the Meditation are a comfort to those who are facing death. The author wants us to remember that life is short and to live it to the fullest. Death is inevitable, but it should not be feared. We should live our lives in such a way that when death comes, we will be prepared and at peace.
By coming closer to God, we hope to be forgiven for our wrongdoings and score a one-way ticket into heaven. In his writing, Donne discusses how “when [the church] baptizes a child” this act not only recognizes the child as an innocent being saved by God, but also connects them as members of the same religious community. This realizations affects him because he too is apart of this group that believes in salvation.
This is significant to Meditation 17 because it cements the idea that we are all interconnected. Donne argues that even if we are not physically close to one another, we are spiritually close. This is due to our connection with God. “No man is an island entire of itself,” he writes, “every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.” This idea is also known as the Great Chain of Being. We are all connected because we are all created by God and part of His plan.
This Meditation has resonated with me on a deep level. In today’s society, it’s easy to feel alone and disconnected from others. But this passage reminds me that we are all connected through our shared humanity and our relationship with God. We are all part of the same family, and we are all on this journey together.
On the occasion of someone’s death, Donne likens them to a chapter in a book, noting that they are “translated into a better language.” This “translation” denotes the release of one’s spirit from this world. Donne explains how our oneness is cemented by how one person’s death affects us all through the metaphor of washed-away earth clods. It draws the corrosive ocean closer to us all as the clods of earth are washed away.
The same way, the death of a single person weakens us all. Donne then asks who would be so bold as to mourn the death of another when their time is just as nigh. This is done in order to remind us that death is something that happens to everyone and no one is exempt. He tells us not to “send to know for whom the bell tolls” because it tolls for thee. In other words, we should not bother trying to find out who has died because eventually, it will be our turn. Death is an inevitable part of life that we must all face.
Ultimately, Donne reminds us that we are all connected and that the death of any one person affects us all. We should not mourn the death of another because we are all mortal and our time will come. We should instead focus on living our own lives to the fullest.
John Donne employs paradox to aid him in developing his argument. Donne claims that “misfortune is a treasure.” The reaper’s icy hands demonstrate how near god and a more moral, religious perspective on life are, bringing one closer to God and toward a better sense of oneself. Affliction, in this way, is really a treasure.
Donne then asks, “why should we in our private griefs, or public shames / Remember our selves?” We should not, he says, because when we do we are only increasing our own pain. It is better to forget about ourselves and focus on God. This may seem like a difficult thing to do, but Donne tells us that it is really quite simple: “Tis the onely medicine.” In other words, it is the only way to ease our pain.
The poem concludes with a Meditation on Death. Donne reflects on the fact that death is inevitable and that no one knows when it will come. He compares death to a “long sleep,” from which we will never wake up. Yet, despite the finality of death, Donne reminds us that we should not be afraid. Why? Because “Death is no more than a turning of us over from time to Eternity.” In other words, death is simply a transition from this life to the next. And what awaits us in eternity is far greater than anything we can imagine in this life.