Writing 'Biathanatos'
Poet involved
What happened
In 1608, while living in Mitcham, England, John Donne wrote 'Biathanatos,' a controversial treatise that defended the act of suicide under certain circumstances. This work emerged during a time of personal and financial despair for Donne, reflecting his struggles with existential questions. Although it was not published during his lifetime, 'Biathanatos' reveals the depth of Donne's philosophical inquiries and foreshadows themes present in his later poetry.
Literary impact
The work reveals Donne's profound engagement with ethics, despair, and casuistry, themes that inform his Holy Sonnets. It demonstrates his fearless intellect even in crisis, influencing later philosophical readings of his oeuvre.
Source: Wikipedia
