The speaker defines the child's state as enviable in "On my First Son" because he believes that death has released his son from the suffering and hardships of life. The speaker views death as a form of liberation and escape from the pains and tribulations of existence. This belief is reflected in lines 9-10 of the poem: "Rest in soft peace, and, asked, say, Here doth lie / Ben Jonson his best piece of poetry." The speaker sees death as a state of eternal rest and tranquility, contrasting it with the struggles and trials of life. Thus, he considers his son fortunate to have passed away and escaped the struggles and hardships of the world.
