How do you interpret the following John Donne quote? Is it as relevant as ever? Perhaps moreso?

Question

"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. . . . "


from Meditation 17 by John Donne, 1624

Answer 1

Interpretation - all humans are interconnected and interdependent.



When the bell tolls (and really the whole stanza) refers to a funeral bell, meaning when it tolls - whoever for, it tolls for you because you a little piece of you has gone with the deceased, and humanity as a whole is diminished. It is the inspiration behind the title of Hemingway's book of the same name last century.



He also uses the metaphor of a piece of land being washed away from an island to make the comparison above.



It is as relevant as ever.

Answer 2

The speaker is asserting that no remember how plenty skill we convey to a representational paintings of paintings --a portray, drawing, image or different depiction of a real element-- it may never seize the real astounding thing approximately experiencing that element with one's very own eyes. The essence of an merchandise's elegance will consistently be lost to an artist analyzing that merchandise, the quote infers. The physique, in assessment, is greater of an unique paintings of paintings, no longer "representing" something, yet BEING something. At a undeniable point people tend to agree. Who could be satisfied with attractive photos of Hawaii if one ought to even have sufficient money to pass there and adventure the islands himself? might you somewhat have a image of an orange, or an ORANGE once you're hungry for a bite of fruit? a image can never recreate all the sensory enter --the ask your self, in case you will-- of experiencing a real orange. whilst the recommendations, and not the tongue and abdomen, craves an orange, we then require an artist. paintings achieves value and greatness no longer by potential of the technical skill of the artist in reproducing a picture, yet by potential of what he provides to the area to boost the adventure of seeing. a image of a woman could be a image or the Mona Lisa. A representation of a bare guy could be vulgar pornography, or that is sensuous or appealing or maybe inspiring, like Michaelangelo's David. In each and every great paintings of paintings, the artist unearths an inner certainty or a high quality that we would possibly no longer casually be conscious in existence and brings it forth to startle, motivate or pass us. Even precis examine in shade, like the paintings of Jackson Pollock, have a rhythm and unity that may arrest the attention and work together the mind's eye. So, at one point the speaker is optimal, yet at a greater profound point, measured against all the great paintings of the international, this quote is in user-friendly terms a wisecrack.

Answer 3

John Donne- My favourite Metaphysical Poet.

His work is superb.

His words are as relevant now as they were when he first penned them.

Excellent question.

Answer 4

more so is it's relevance if only through such seemingly impersonal concepts as world economics, mass media, and globalization. though you and i are many miles apart we are neighbors. what diminishes you and yours in turn diminishes me and mine.

Answer 5

Something to aspire to. Love that quote.



I smell an English teacher.

Answer 6

We are all interrelated in a physical and metaphysical / spiritual level .