Precedence

This poem serves as an exploration of death, equality, and the levelling effect the end of life has on all, regardless of status or rank. The theme of death's majesty is introduced immediately in the opening stanza, setting a solemn yet grandiose tone. The poet employs the metaphor of a lowly footman, a figure typically associated with servitude, to underscore death's indiscriminate nature.

The poem's structure, composed of four quatrains, helps to progressively reveal the central idea. The second stanza introduces the notion of the 'democrat' dressed in 'everlasting robes', a clear symbol of death's egalitarianism. References to 'preferment' and 'station' highlight societal preoccupations with hierarchy and status, which the poet suggests are rendered meaningless by death.

In the third stanza, the deceased is depicted as a 'quiet courtier' around whom 'obsequious angels wait', suggesting an elevated status in death. This theme is further emphasized by the rich use of regal imagery in 'Full royal is his retinue, Full purple is his state'. The final stanza continues to challenge the conventions of class and hierarchy, proposing that even a lord might pay respects to such 'modest clay'.

Throughout the poem, the poet effectively uses irony and contrasts to challenge societal norms, while simultaneously employing rich, regal imagery to underscore death's grandeur. The tone, while solemn, carries an underlying note of defiance against societal hierarchy, reflecting a democratizing view of mortality.