'Holy Sonnet VI: This Is My Play's Last Scene, Here Heavens Appoint' by John Donne

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This is my play's last scene, here heavens appoint
My pilgrimage's last mile; and my race
Idly, yet quickly run, hath this last pace,
My span's last inch, my minute's latest point,
And gluttonous death, will instantly unjoint
My body and soul, and I shall sleep a space;
But my ever-waking part shall see that face,
Whose fear already shakes my every joint:
Then, as my soul, t' heaven her first seat, takes flight,
And earth-born body in the earth shall dwell,
So fall my sins that all may have their right
(To where they're bred, and would press me) to hell.
Impute me righteous, thus purged of evil,
For thus I leave the world, the flesh, the devil.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Holy Sonnet VI: This Is My Play's Last Scene, Here Heavens Appoint

By John Donne

This is my play's last scene; here heavens appoint
My pilgrimage's last mile; and my race,
Idly yet quickly run, hath this last pace,
My span's last inch, my minute's latest point;
And gluttonous death will instantly unjoint
My body and soul, and I shall sleep a space;
But my'ever-waking part shall see that face,
Whose fear already shakes my every joint.
Then, as my soul to'heaven, her first seat, takes flight,
And earth-born body in the earth shall dwell,
So fall my sins, that all may have their right,
To where they're bred, and would press me, to hell.
Impute me righteous, thus purged of evil,
For thus I leave the world, the flesh, the devil.

John Donne's Holy Sonnet VI is a powerful portrayal of the inevitability of death and the hope of salvation. The poem is structured as a sonnet, with fourteen lines of iambic pentameter, a rhyme scheme of abba abba cddc ee, and a volta, or turn, between the eighth and ninth lines. The first eight lines describe the speaker's acceptance of death and the final moments of his life, while the final six lines turn towards the hope of salvation and the possibility of redemption.

The poem opens with the speaker describing his imminent death as the "last scene" of his "play." This metaphor of life as a play or drama was a common trope in Renaissance literature, and Donne uses it here to emphasize the transitory nature of human existence. The speaker's life is depicted as a pilgrimage, a journey towards a final destination, and his death is the "last mile" of that journey. The phrase "idly yet quickly run" captures the paradoxical sense of time passing both slowly and quickly as one approaches the end of life.

The second quatrain focuses on the physicality of death, using the image of "gluttonous death" to convey its voracious appetite. The speaker's body and soul will be separated, and he will enter a temporary state of sleep before being judged. The line "whose fear already shakes my every joint" suggests that the speaker is already experiencing anxiety about the afterlife, anticipating the moment when his soul will be judged.

The volta in line nine marks a shift in tone and subject matter, as the speaker turns towards the hope of salvation. He portrays his soul as taking flight to its "first seat" in heaven, returning to its original home. The image of the "earth-born body" returning to the earth is a common one in Christian literature, emphasizing the impermanence of the material world and the ultimate destiny of human bodies.

The final quatrain introduces the theme of redemption, as the speaker asks that his sins be "purged of evil" and that he be "imputed righteous." The phrase "thus I leave the world, the flesh, the devil" suggests a conscious rejection of worldly temptations and a desire for spiritual purity. The final couplet is a powerful statement of faith, asserting that through the process of death and judgment, the speaker will be freed from the burden of sin and able to enter into eternal life.

One of the most striking aspects of Holy Sonnet VI is the way it combines the themes of death and salvation in a single poem. Donne depicts death as a natural and inevitable part of human existence, but he does not stop there. Instead, he uses the experience of death to point towards the hope of salvation, emphasizing the possibility of redemption and spiritual transformation. This combination of realism and faith is characteristic of Donne's poetry, and it gives his work a distinctive emotional and intellectual power.

In terms of form, Holy Sonnet VI is a masterful example of the sonnet form. Donne uses the rhyme scheme and meter of the sonnet to create a sense of formal coherence and balance, while also allowing for variations and surprises within the poem. The volta in line nine is a particularly effective use of the sonnet form, marking a clear shift in tone and subject matter that gives the poem a sense of momentum and development. Overall, Donne's use of form contributes to his ability to convey complex ideas and emotions in a concise and powerful way.

One of the most interesting aspects of Holy Sonnet VI is the way it blends different literary traditions and genres. The metaphor of life as a play draws on the tradition of drama and performance, while the imagery of death and salvation is rooted in Christian theology. By combining these different sources, Donne creates a poem that is both deeply personal and culturally resonant. He uses his own experience of mortality to explore universal themes of human existence, and he draws on the rich cultural resources of his time to give those themes a vivid and compelling expression.

In conclusion, Holy Sonnet VI is a powerful and moving poem that explores the themes of death, salvation, and redemption. Through its skillful use of form and language, it conveys a sense of the profound spiritual and emotional challenges that human beings face in the face of mortality. And yet, it also points towards the possibility of hope and transcendence, suggesting that even in the face of death, there is a way to achieve spiritual freedom and transformation. For readers today, it remains a testament to the enduring power of poetry to engage with the deepest questions of human existence.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

John Donne's Holy Sonnet VI, "This Is My Play's Last Scene, Here Heavens Appoint," is a powerful and moving poem that explores the themes of death, redemption, and the afterlife. Written in the early 17th century, this sonnet is a testament to Donne's skill as a poet and his deep understanding of the human condition.

The poem begins with the speaker declaring that "this is my play's last scene," indicating that his life is coming to an end. He then goes on to describe the various stages of his life, from his birth to his eventual death. The speaker acknowledges that his life has been full of sin and wrongdoing, but he also expresses a deep desire for redemption and forgiveness.

The second half of the poem is focused on the afterlife, with the speaker describing the moment of his death and his journey to heaven. He speaks of the "angels singing out of tune" and the "dreadful Judge" who will determine his fate. Despite the fear and uncertainty that comes with the prospect of judgment, the speaker remains steadfast in his faith and his belief in the power of God's mercy.

One of the most striking aspects of Holy Sonnet VI is the way in which Donne uses language to convey the complex emotions and ideas that are at the heart of the poem. His use of metaphor and imagery is particularly effective, as he draws on a range of literary and religious traditions to create a rich and evocative portrait of the human experience.

For example, in the opening lines of the poem, Donne compares his life to a play, suggesting that it is a performance that is coming to an end. This metaphor is particularly powerful because it captures the sense of transience and impermanence that is inherent in human existence. By describing his life as a play, Donne is also suggesting that there is a larger purpose or design to his existence, and that his death is not simply an end, but a transition to a new phase of being.

Throughout the poem, Donne also draws on religious imagery and symbolism to convey his ideas about death and the afterlife. For example, he speaks of the "dreadful Judge" who will determine his fate, a reference to the Christian belief in a final judgment. He also describes the angels singing out of tune, a reference to the idea that even the most beautiful music cannot fully capture the glory of heaven.

Perhaps the most powerful aspect of Holy Sonnet VI is the way in which Donne grapples with the complex emotions that come with the prospect of death and judgment. He acknowledges his own sinfulness and wrongdoing, but he also expresses a deep desire for redemption and forgiveness. This tension between guilt and hope is at the heart of the poem, and it is what gives it its emotional power.

In the final lines of the poem, Donne expresses his faith in God's mercy, even in the face of judgment. He writes, "I shall be made thy music; as I find / In death thy life in me." This is a powerful statement of faith, suggesting that even in death, the speaker will be transformed and made new by the power of God's love.

Overall, Holy Sonnet VI is a powerful and moving poem that explores some of the most fundamental questions of human existence. Through his use of metaphor, imagery, and religious symbolism, Donne creates a rich and evocative portrait of the human experience, one that is both deeply personal and universally resonant. Whether read as a meditation on death and the afterlife, or as a testament to the power of faith and redemption, this sonnet is a masterpiece of English literature, and a testament to Donne's skill as a poet.

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