Final answer:
John Donne provides several reasons in his poem 'Death Be Not Proud' as to why death should not be proud, including the temporary nature of death, its subservience to fate and chance, and its ultimate defeat by love.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the poem 'Death Be Not Proud' by John Donne, the poet presents several reasons for his declaration that death should not be proud.
One reason Donne gives is that death is not as powerful as it is often perceived. He argues that death is simply a temporary state that leads to an eternal life. Donne writes, 'One short sleep past, we wake eternally, / And death shall be no more.' This shows that death is not something to be feared, as it is just a transition to a different existence.
Additionally, Donne asserts that death is merely a slave to fate and chance. He states, 'Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men.' This suggests that death is not in control of its actions and is subject to external forces. Therefore, there is no reason for death to be proud, as it is not the ultimate authority.
Lastly, Donne argues that death is defeated by the power of love. He writes, 'And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.' This paradoxical statement conveys the idea that love is a force more powerful than death, and ultimately, death will be overcome.