This is my play’s last scene by John Donne | This is my play’s last scene | John Donne | Explanation | Summary | Key Points | Word Meaning | Critical Appreciation | Questions Answers | Free PDF Download – Easy Literary Lessons
This is my play’s last scene
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 my 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’are bred, and would press me, to hell.
Impute me righteous, thus purg’d of evil,
For thus I leave the world, the flesh, the devil.
This is my play’s last scene by John Donne: YouTube
This is my play’s last scene Analysis
Line 1: This is my play’s last scene; here heavens appoint
Explanation: The speaker begins by comparing his life to a play and his death to the last scene of that play. This metaphor suggests that the speaker sees his life as a journey with a clear destination, which is death.
Line 2: My pilgrimage’s last mile; and my race,
Explanation: The speaker continues to compare his life to a pilgrimage and a race. These metaphors suggest that the speaker sees his life as a journey with a goal, and that he is now nearing the end of that journey.
Line 3: Idly, yet quickly run, hath this last pace,
Explanation: The speaker acknowledges that his life has been both idle and quick, suggesting that he has wasted some time but has also lived a full and active life.
Line 4: My span’s last inch, my minute’s latest point;
Explanation: The speaker is now very close to death. He is measuring his remaining life in inches and minutes.
Line 5: And gluttonous death will instantly unjoint
Explanation: The speaker personifies death in these lines by calling it “gluttonous.” This suggests that death is a powerful and unstoppable force.
Line 6: My body and my soul, and I shall sleep a space;
Explanation: The speaker contrasts his mortal body and immortal soul again in these lines. He calls his soul his “ever-waking part,” suggesting that it is constantly aware of God’s presence. The speaker also acknowledges that he will die, but he uses the metaphor of sleep to suggest that death is only a temporary state.
Line 7: But my’ever-waking part shall see that face
Explanation: The speaker is confident that his soul will see God’s face after death. This is a reference to the Christian belief in heaven and the afterlife.
Line 8: Whose fear already shakes my every joint.
Explanation: The speaker acknowledges that he is afraid of God, but he is also confident in God’s love and forgiveness.
Line 9: Then, as my soul to’heaven, her first seat, takes flight,
Explanation: The speaker is confident that his soul will go to heaven after death.
Line 10: And earth-born body in the earth shall dwell,
Explanation: The speaker contrasts his mortal body and immortal soul again in these lines. His body will die and be buried in the earth, but his soul will live on in heaven.
Line 11: So fall my sins, that all may have their right,
Explanation: The speaker acknowledges that he is a sinner, but he expresses confidence that his sins will be forgiven. He asks God to “impute him righteous,” meaning to declare him righteous. The speaker believes that he has been purged of evil through his faith in God.
Line 12: To where they’are bred, and would press me, to hell.
Explanation: The speaker is aware that his sins would lead him to hell, but he is confident in God’s forgiveness.
Line 13: Impute me righteous, thus purg’d of evil,
Explanation: The speaker is asking God to declare him righteous, meaning to forgive his sins. He believes that he has been purged of evil through his faith in God.
Line 14: For thus I leave the world, the flesh, the devil.
Explanation: The speaker is declaring that he is leaving the world, the flesh, and the devil behind. This is a reference to the three temptations that Jesus faced in the desert. The speaker is expressing his confidence that he has overcome these temptations and that he is now ready to face death.
