7. DEATH THE LEVELLER

 7. DEATH THE LEVELLER

James Shirley‟s „Death the Leveller‟ is a hauntingly philosophical poem about the death that tramples down human pride and pomp. It presents a vividly personified picture of death as the ultimate conqueror who is showing to equality to all alike. 

The poet says that the glories of our blood and state are shadows, not substantial  things. It also adds that there is no armour against fate. Death lays its icy hands on all  alike .For death there is no partiality .S The ultimate leveller comes and lays his icy  hands on kings and clowns alike. The sceptre and the crown of the king fall down and  lie equal in the dust with the poor peasant‟s scythe and spade. 

Worldly victory and success too are futile before death. Some men reap and heap  enemy heads in the battlefield and win laurels to adorn their heads. They also should  surrender infront of death. But ignorant people kill each other like thoughtless  beasts.Early or late they also shall stoop to fate .They also shall give up their  murmuring breath and creep to death. 

Strength and courage too shall pass. We all die helpless and weak. The garlands on our  heads wither and lose their charm and the victories they once proclaimed are forgotten.  We too lose our charm and like pale captives we creep to death with a feeble murmur.  In Death‟s altar victor and victim are equal. The winners also will be sent to their cold  tombs. 

In the end, we must return to the dust from which we all came, but the good deeds of  the just will blossom from the dust and smell sweet forever. Only this fragrance will  last for ever. Here Shirley appeals to the author to think about the human actions .The central idea  Shirley tries to convey is the vanity and impermanence of human life .It also tries to  prove that death shows no distinction, between the high and low ,rich and poor and  strong and weak. The poem also reminds us that only the good deeds done in our life  will remain with us for ever. It will crown us even after death.