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The meaning of life and death in literature
Literary criticism The Dead
The meaning of life and death in literature
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Death has a very different way of reacting to his job than what our reaction is. Our reaction to his job is cruel, despicable, and unnecessary. But to him, it’s what he has to do. It’s what he was meant to do. So to him, of course he’s isn’t going to have a super dramatic reaction to something he does everyday. “It kills me sometimes, how people die.” This quote resembles that Death does know that he carries them away after death. He recognizes that, however, it still shocks him. The overall death of a human shocks him, to where his reaction is he knows that he has to do this but at the same time it’s saddening. “I am haunted by humans.” Now this quote takes more into our reaction to deaths of loved ones. We of course are disappointed and melancholy. Although, no one thinks about the effect our reactions have on Death. Our reactions cause him to suffer and his reaction is disappointment. So, Death’s reaction shows he is caring because he doesn’t react in a harsh way like we do. …show more content…
When you think of Death, you obviously don’t think of subtle nor caring. He understands death isn’t easy for people to understand nor take easy. “You are going to die.” I chose this quote because i think it clearly represents that he is warning them so their understanding of what will happen is more clear and less harsh. My next quote deals with people's understanding of death. So a different point of view. “Even death has a heart.” This quote represents people’s understanding of how death is as a character. They finally see him as someone who has to do this as his job instead of a cruel character who does this on purpose. So, Death understands that people will not take what he does lightly so he tries his best to help them through this adverse
The first stanza of “Two Thoughts of Death” by Countee Cullen is pretty straight forward. The narrator explains that when he’s dead, he would not have much of a concern who takes care of his body or who cries for him, after he’s gone. The first impression that the narrator portraits to the reader is of not having compassion for the living or glad for leaving. The first stanza clearly portraits that the topic is death.
Death has feelings as much as any human, imagining, getting bored, distracted, and especially wondering (350, 243, 1, 375 respectively). Odd, one could say for an eternal metaphysical being. But then again, not that queer once having considered how Death spends his time. He is there at the dying of every light, that moment that the soul departs its physical shell, and sees the beauty or horror of that moment. Where to a human witnessing a death first hand (even on a much more detached level than our narrator) can easily be a life changing event, Death is forced to witness these passings for nearly every moment of his eternal life. Emotional overload or philosophical catalyst? Death gains his unique perspective on life through his many experiences with the slowly closing eyelids and muttered last words. Yet in this...
While humans blame war, sickness, and disasters as the cause for suffering, death realizes that humans cause pain and death on their own. Death realizes that the pain and suffering that occurred during the holocaust was because of humans. Humans create their own horror and death must clean up the aftermath. This seems to confuse and scare death. Death concludes its story by saying, “I am haunted by humans” (Zusak 550). I think this is one of the most eye opening statements in the book. It is ironic because most humans spend their life in fear of death, but death reveals that it is afraid of humans. Death seems to be saying that it is haunted by what humans are capable of, in terms of hatred and violence. Humans have the ability to build up one another, but at the same time, they can tear one another down and destroy all that is good in the world. Death is forced to see the pain, suffering, and destruction in the world each day as it picks up the souls that died as a result. This could be the reason death is so beaten down and reluctant to do its job, because it does not like to see all of the suffering humans bring upon themselves. It could also be the reason death has such an interest in Liesel’s story. Death says, “There was much work to be done, and with a collection of other materials, The Book Thief was stepped on several times and eventually picked up
When it comes to death, everyone has a different perspective about it. One might think death is just a beginning, a key to open the door to the afterlife. A release, a way out to a different world. Others might think that death is simply a lesson of life. It teaches one not to waste his or her time but live to enjoy it, while it still last. Live and do whatever one desire before time runs out. Surely, death has many different purposes and meanings. In the short story “Bullet in the Brain” by Tobias Wolff. He uses death as a flashback and a final thought to show the reader the character’s life in the story. In the “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” by Ambrose Bierce, he uses death to teach the reader that one should stand up and protect the
He begins by looking at the very common views of death that are held by most people in the world, and tells us that he will talk of death as the "unequivocal and permanent end to our existence" and look directly at the nature of death itself (1). The first view that
Losing a loved one can be difficult, hard, and can even drive a person insane. In Shakespeare’s play Hamlet death takes its toll on the entire royal family. When King Hamlet died, it caused Claudius to take the thrown and the hand of queen Gertrude. As soon as the King and Queen hear about how mad Hamlet has gone they discuss the idea of death and wonder if the thought of death or not mourning the made him go crazy. Claudius quotes, “When sorrows come, they come not single spies. But in battalions” (3.4.52-53). This quote symbolizes that death brings sorrow and how this is a view on death. Although mourning is common between characters in the beginning of the play, views on death become different and apparent among Gertrude, Claudius, and Hamlet.
Death closes the novel by saying he is haunted by humans. The irony of the statement is profound as typically humans are haunted by death. The thoughts of Death throughout the novel reveal his innermost feelings toward the human race and create a large amount of sympathy for him. The cruelness of the human race was evident in Nazi Germany with the severe loss of life of all people. Death does not understand this cruelness. Sympathy is created by Death's questioning of a higher being and why the brutality has not been
Death is part of the circle of life and it's the end of your time on earth; the end of your time with your family and loved ones. Nobody wants to die, leaving their family and missing the good times your loved ones will have once you pass on. In the Mercury Reader, Elisabeth Kübler-Ross “On the Fear of Death” and Joan Didion “Afterlife” from The Year of Magical Thinking” both share common theses on death and grieving. Didion and Kübler-Ross both explain grieving and dealing with death. Steve Jobs commencement speech for Stanford’s graduation ceremony and through personal experience jumps further into death and how I feel about it. Your time is on earth is limited one day you will die and there are many ways of grieving at the death of a loved one. I believe that the fear of death and the death of a loved one will hold you back from living your own life and the fear of your own death is selfish.
Many people find it hard to imagine their death as there are so many questions to be answered-how will it happen, when, where and what comes next. The fact that our last days on Earth is unknown makes the topic of death a popular one for most poets who looks to seek out their own emotions. By them doing that it helps the reader make sense of their own emotions as well. In the two poems “Because I Could Not Stop for Death” by Emily Dickenson and “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night” by Dylan Thomas, the poets are both capturing their emotion about death and the way that they accepted it. In Dickenson’s poem her feelings towards death are more passionate whereas in Dylan’s poem the feelings
It is inevitable that one day all people must die. Death can come when a person wants it to come, but most of the time death comes when a person least expects it. The views of death range from culture to culture. Some people believe that death is the end of their journey here on earth, while other people believe that death is just a necessary step in their journey of their body and soul. W. H Auden’s poem titled “Funeral Blues” and John Donne’s poem titled “Death be not proud” gives one insight into both of those views or beliefs. Both poems talk of death; however, the meaning of death between the two varies significantly.
First, there is a complete anonymity of the author of the play. Everyman is all living in the world. Everyman is used as a representation, representing all the human nature in the world that we live in. He is increasing in pleasure, making God be disappointed because people have become ‘transitory’ (Everyman 24). As a result, God asks death to roam the world and take keen note of the bad and the good. Here, the main purpose of death is to let Everyman know the truth and separate it from bad. Death is perceived to have a bad character as being cruel. Nonetheless, as far as he has every unfavorable character, he is still the agent of change and correction other than punishment. The author expresses
Death is a matter of two choices: regret or acceptance. One of the two must be chosen, for they are only the inevitable. Regret is the easy choice, for everyone has regret. Acceptance is the hard choice, for only a few people are able to say that they have lived their life to the fullest. Acceptance is the one thing I didn’t want to do, I learned to accept through the wisdom of The Giver. (Before and After Comparison)
The author uses Death as a character to express truth that everyone will, inevitably, come in contact with death. In the play Everyman, death is embodied as a representative of God that visits the plays central character, Everyman. "Death" takes hold of the readers’ interests because it is such a profound word. It is a burdened, aggressive, penetrating word that replicates an actuality that every human will have to come to accept. Death is an adversary in the play that signifies physical death. The author recognizes the consequences of death and uses that knowledge to bring in the reader. In Everyman, the author portrays the character Death as a symbolic exemplification of human death and the reader sees that “Death” does not surpass anyone, it is in God’s hands, and it convicts ones heart.
The “Death, Be Not Proud” poem is about somebody treating death as a person, and telling them not to be so proud because he isn’t scared. A quote from the selection says, “Death, be not proud, though some have called thee / Mighty and dreadful, for thou
He is entirely alone except for his possessions. They do him no good, as material objects are not permitted by Death. Everyman begins to turn inwardly and seek the gifts of his being. Individually he begins to unpack them and present them to Death. First he offers his Good Deeds to Death to which are few and far between in comparison to Everyman’s entire life. Knowledge unfolds himself within Everyman and he gains a second wind. Death watches closely as Everyman begins to become honest with himself. Just as a magnifying glass has been shown upon Everyman, he refines every characteristic he has spent his life cultivating. First he calls for Beauty, Strength, and Discretion. They come to his side as would an emphatic group of clowns (Paulson, 2007). They are no match for Death and are quickly brushed aside. Even still, Everyman is encouraged by Good Deeds, as a wise old woman would counsel a child. Everyman’s Five Wits begin to surround him and Wisdom’s Mind, Will, and Understanding begin to put on a show for Death. Good Deeds is always looking for charitable ways to lend a hand. Has Everyman performed any charitable acts? Death begins to teach Everyman that in preperation to die, one must give away his Goods so that the living may have more. This is the beginning phase of Everyman learning about Penance and