Meditation 17
John Donne metaphorically symbolizes the tolling of the bell in Meditation 17, as death. The tolling which announces the looming death of an unknowing individual. Who hears the toll, yet does not doubt himself. Donne may even think himself better than those around him, that the world can distinguish his "state", yet he cannot. John Donne expresses his devotion to the Catholic Church, that God is the connection to all humanity. The baptizing of a child is representing the child's anointed connection to the church, which connects him, for he is anointed with the church as well. Donne refers to mankind's connection as an open book, which the death of a man, does not result in his chapter being "torn out". The death affects every man's chapter in the "open book"(humanity's book) his chapter is "translated"(changed), and it is rewritten as we are left with memories. The death of one-man changes the verses of the next man's chapter, for we are all connected. The translation is also death-- death by age, by sickness, by war, by justic
Donne is confessing that we don't need to share our misery with others, that we all have trials and tribulations of our own, which set us apart. It is not money or possessions that bring us closer to God, it is again our trials and tribulations. It is our tribulations that humble us before our God, forming riotous intimacy. The possessions of one man, is of no use to a man who is deathly sick with his afflictions; but by analyzing this mans affliction and proximity to his time, Donne appreciates his refuge in his humbleness to God, whom is his protector, his shield, his shelter. "...religious orders should ring to prayer first in the morning...if we understand aright the dignity of this bell that tolls for our evening prayer, we should be glad to make it ours by rising early..." Donne is expressing that our dignity with God is relevant at all times, we must be riotous with our religion during "Morning Prayer", as well as "Evening Prayer". We ought to be "glad" to find dignity during our earlier stages in life, and not delay our dignity at our life's end, that we may gain our chapter in the "open book". e, but ultimately God.
Some common words found in the essay are:
Evening Prayer, God God, Church God, John Donne, CP October, Donne's Meditation, Manning English, man's chapter, evening prayer, john donne, bell tolls, meditation 17, trials tribulations, tolling bell,
Approximate Word count = 770
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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