Subtext: Conversations about Classic Books and Films

Mortal Pretensions in John Donne’s “Death Be Not Proud” (Holy Sonnet 10)


Listen Later

A recusant Catholic turned Protestant, a rake turned priest, a scholar, lawyer, politician, soldier, secretary, sermonizer, and of course, a poet— John Donne’s biography contains so many scuttled identities and discrete lives, perhaps its no wonder that his great subjects were mortality and death. His Holy Sonnets, likely composed between 1609 and 1610, and published posthumously in 1633, are a collection of 19 poems written after the sea change in Donne’s subject matter from the secular to the sacred. They reflect his anxiety over his conversion to Anglicanism and his eventual decision to enter the priesthood, and meditate on salvation, death, and the wages of sin. Erin & Wes discuss Sonnet 10 in this series, “Death Be Not Proud,” an address of Death personified, whose power gradually diminishes beneath the force of Donne’s dazzling poetic rhetoric.

For bonus content, become a paid subscriber at Patreon or directly on the Apple Podcasts app. Patreon subscribers also get early access to ad-free regular episodes.

This podcast is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Visit AirwaveMedia.com to listen and subscribe to other Airwave shows like Good Job, Brain and Big Picture Science.

Email [email protected] to enquire about advertising on the podcast.

Follow: Twitter | Facebook | Website

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Subtext: Conversations about Classic Books and FilmsBy Wes Alwan and Erin O'Luanaigh

  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9

4.9

228 ratings


More shows like Subtext: Conversations about Classic Books and Films

View all
Entitled Opinions (about Life and Literature) by Robert Harrison

Entitled Opinions (about Life and Literature)

494 Listeners

The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast by Mark Linsenmayer, Wes Alwan, Seth Paskin, Dylan Casey

The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast

2,081 Listeners

Very Bad Wizards by Tamler Sommers & David Pizarro

Very Bad Wizards

2,639 Listeners

Philosophize This! by Stephen West

Philosophize This!

14,985 Listeners

The History of Literature by Jacke Wilson / The Podglomerate

The History of Literature

1,083 Listeners

Literature and History by Doug Metzger

Literature and History

1,359 Listeners

Philosophy For Our Times by IAI

Philosophy For Our Times

304 Listeners

Why Theory by Why Theory

Why Theory

557 Listeners

Weird Studies by SpectreVision Radio

Weird Studies

549 Listeners

Hermitix by Hermitix

Hermitix

324 Listeners

Theory & Philosophy by David Guignion

Theory & Philosophy

340 Listeners

Hardcore Literature by Benjamin McEvoy

Hardcore Literature

493 Listeners

Acid Horizon by Acid Horizon

Acid Horizon

175 Listeners

What's Left of Philosophy by Lillian Cicerchia, Owen Glyn-Williams, Gil Morejón, and William Paris

What's Left of Philosophy

252 Listeners

The Nietzsche Podcast by Untimely Reflections

The Nietzsche Podcast

182 Listeners