For Whom The Bell Tolls Poem by John Donne

For Whom The Bell Tolls

Rating: 3.4


PERCHANCE he for whom this bell tolls may be so ill, as that he
knows not it tolls for him; and perchance I may think myself so
much better than I am, as that they who are about me, and see my
state, may have caused it to toll for me, and I know not that. The
church is Catholic, universal, so are all her actions; all that she
does belongs to all. When she baptizes a child, that action
concerns me; for that child is thereby connected to that body which
is my head too, and ingrafted into that body whereof I am a member.
And when she buries a man, that action concerns me: all mankind is
of one author, and is one volume; when one man dies, one chapter is
not torn out of the book, but translated into a better language;
and every chapter must be so translated; God employs several
translators; some pieces are translated by age, some by sickness,
some by war, some by justice; but God's hand is in every
translation, and his hand shall bind up all our scattered leaves
again for that library where every book shall lie open to one
another. As therefore the bell that rings to a sermon calls not
upon the preacher only, but upon the congregation to come, so this
bell calls us all; but how much more me, who am brought so near the
door by this sickness. There was a contention as far as a suit (in
which both piety and dignity, religion and estimation, were
mingled), which of the religious orders should ring to prayers
first in the morning; and it was determined, that they should ring
first that rose earliest. If we understand aright the dignity of
this bell that tolls for our evening prayer, we would be glad to
make it ours by rising early, in that application, that it might be
ours as well as his, whose indeed it is. The bell doth toll for him
that thinks it doth; and though it intermit again, yet from that
minute that this occasion wrought upon him, he is united to God.
Who casts not up his eye to the sun when it rises? but who takes
off his eye from a comet when that breaks out? Who bends not his
ear to any bell which upon any occasion rings? but who can remove
it from that bell which is passing a piece of himself out of this
world? No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece
of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by
the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as
well as if a manor of thy friend's or of thine own were: any man's
death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and
therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for
thee. Neither can we call this a begging of misery, or a borrowing
of misery, as though we were not miserable enough of ourselves, but
must fetch in more from the next house, in taking upon us the
misery of our neighbours. Truly it were an excusable covetousness
if we did, for affliction is a treasure, and scarce any man hath
enough of it. No man hath affliction enough that is not matured and
ripened by it, and made fit for God by that affliction. If a man
carry treasure in bullion, or in a wedge of gold, and have none
coined into current money, his treasure will not defray him as he
travels. Tribulation is treasure in the nature of it, but it is not
current money in the use of it, except we get nearer and nearer our
home, heaven, by it. Another man may be sick too, and sick to
death, and this affliction may lie in his bowels, as gold in a
mine, and be of no use to him; but this bell, that tells me of his
affliction, digs out and applies that gold to me: if by this
consideration of another's danger I take mine own into
contemplation, and so secure myself, by making my recourse to my
God, who is our only security.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Terence George Craddock 09 March 2013

To understand 'For Whom The Bell Tolls' by John Donne, it will be useful to explore Donne’s conception of religion. Donne states his belief in Meditation XVII, that the church is Catholic, universal, so are all her actions; all that she does belongs to all; meaning in death God deals with all in universal terms. Donne defines these terms as to God the Lord belong the issues of death, ... it is in his Power to give us and issue... deliverance, ... (we) are brought to the jaws and teeth of death, and to the lips of that whirlpool, the grave. This quote from 'Death's Duell' by John Donne, clearly defines a religious theme, an exploration of the meaning of death. The poem begins PERCHANCE he for whom this bell tolls may be so ill, as that he knows not it tolls for him meaning he is extremely sick and about to die, but does not know he is about to die, that the bells tolls for his imminent death. The discourse on for who the bells are tolling continues I may think myself so much better than I am, ... (but) they who are about me, and see my state, may have caused it (the bells) to toll for me, and I know not that. Thus he believes himself to be in better heath than he is, but is terminal and about to die. John Donne is expressing various Christian religious thoughts, such as all are united in the body of Christ; indeed Colossians 1: 18 states Christ is the head of the body, the congregation. Donne affirms this belief stating When she (the church) baptizes a child, that action concerns me; for that child is thereby connected to that body which is my head too, and ingrafted into that body whereof I am a member. For Donne this clearly means as he originally declared in the lines preceding this quote the church is Catholic, universal, so are all her actions; all that she does belongs to all. How does Donne define God claiming us in death, in ways where death universally claims us? With the belief all mankind is of one author, and is one volume; when one man dies, one chapter is not torn out of the book. Put simply God created man and tears us from the book of life at his will. Donne defines death as a process through which we all must be translated; God employs several translators; some pieces are translated by age, some by sickness, some by war, some by justice; but God's hand is in every translation. Death is universal but God claims our lives in different ways. It does not matter where or how we die because God's hand is in every translation, and his hand shall bind up all our scattered leaves again for that library where every book shall lie open. This is a reference to God writing our names in the book of life or death. Donne reminds us we shall all die in the line never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee. Sharing sufferings of others is a basic Christian concept, and so is sharing death, which Donne links as a universal misery affecting all saying Neither can we call this a begging of misery, or a borrowing of misery, as though we were not miserable enough of ourselves, but must fetch in more from the next house, in taking upon us the misery of our neighbours. Our sufferings in life Donne insists prepare us or death and God because affliction is a treasure, and scarce any man hath enough of it. No man hath affliction enough that is not matured and ripened by it, and made fit for God by that affliction. This echoes the sentiment behind verses like Revelation 2: 27; where people are shepherded with an iron rod, so they will be broken to pieces like clay vessels, and made into a new being. A concept like iron ore tortured in the furnace, to produce the purity of the finest steal. Tribulation is treasure... we get nearer and nearer our home, heaven, by it. Thus Donne clearly means suffering in life prepares us for the purity, of our creation through death into a new being, to share eternity with God. Eventually all shall be sick to death, and this affliction... contemplation we cannot escape. Donne recognizes the hand of God and a chance of salvation in death and he will grasp this opportunity and so secure myself, by making my recourse to my God, who is our only security. This is the ultimate reminder, God works in mysterious ways. The concept being we know that God causes everything to work together (cooperate) for the good of those who love God and (who) are called in accordance with his purpose as Romans 8: 28 declares. The treasure of salvation concept Donne expresses, is rich with Biblical references, but after all, these are church bells that toll for us that bell which is passing a piece of himself out of this world. The language of Meditation XVII by John Donne is difficult, it requires several readings and studied thought but the theme is clear, The bell doth toll for him that thinks it doth; and … (through death and belief we are) united to God.

11 7 Reply
Kevin Straw 09 March 2010

This is the full rich sound of wisdom expressed in precise memorable phrasing, whether you agree with it or not. Imagine being present when this sermon was first heard!

9 2 Reply
Shahzia Batool 09 March 2013

Yes, God is our only security For whom the bell tolls- -A masterpiece by the master poet! ! !

6 4 Reply

A poem written in poet's own holistic approach regarding the church, meditation, and collective responsibilities and such so other things which are important and the poem is very beautiful.

5 4 Reply
Diane J. Locher 17 November 2007

Now is the time for all to listen, for the bell tolls not for one, but for all.

7 1 Reply
Sylvia Frances Chan 09 November 2021

Now we know this Title original by John Donne and not by Ernest Hemingway. I have enjoyed this very worthy poem

1 0 Reply
Sylvia Frances Chan 09 November 2021

God, who is our only security. is the concluding line byJohn Donne in this poem. So truest and very insightful poem. I love John Donne's faithful belief for God.5 Stars full on Top

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Gangadharan nair Pulingat.. 08 November 2021

John Done the great poet and his poems always envisions a God friendly human relations and proclaims the universal god to make us responsible to the almighty for all our actions. I likes the poet.

1 0 Reply
Rose Marie Juan-austin 20 September 2021

A masterpiece that deals on fate, religion, life and death. Very encompassing and discerning write. So brilliantly narrated.

1 0 Reply
Ellen Ok 11 January 2021

I learned it as a song....

1 0 Reply
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John Donne

John Donne

London, England
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