Holy Sonnet 14 Analysis

"Holy Sonnet " and “Holy Sonnet 14”

"Holy Sonnet 10"

In this particular poem, one of the reasons as to why death ought not to be deemed 'mighty and dreadful' is because it is essentially comparable to sleep.  This has been made clear in line 5 and 6.  If there is nothing to fear in sleep, should there be anything to fear in death?  As a matter of fact, the speaker is categorical that just like sleep, death could even be pleasurable.  The other reason as to why death is not 'mighty and dreadful' is because it does not have power or might to act on its own, but is largely dependent on things like chance and fate. 

When it comes to that final line's paradox, it would be prudent to note that the speaker reveals that those who death claims eventually experience eternal life.  They can no longer die.  On this front, death is 'extinguished' for eternity - effectively experiencing its own death.  

“Holy Sonnet 14”

The overall message of the speaker in this case happens to be a call for God's intervention in his life.  He is essentially beseeching God to intervene as he appears to have lost touch with the Devine. In so doing, he admits that he is powerless and unless God intervenes, he will be lost forever.  This is essentially a soul that has been tormented to the point of discomfiture.    

The speaker has deployed all the verbs highlighted in an attempt to more forcefully portray how desperate and urgent his cry out for help is.  The verbs also appear to be an attempt to portray God as an immense force that is capable of just about anything.  In seeking to further project God's power over him, the speaker makes use of paradoxes, such as is the case in line 4.  On this front, he presents himself as a powerless being that can only be salvaged ('raise and stand') by God's decisive and direct intervention ('o'erthrow me').