The Use of Death in Poetry

The Use of Death in Poetry

Poems reveal many inside thoughts of the speaker that can be interpreted by the reader. Death is expressed quite often in poetic work because of the simplicity to be able to express feelings. Suicide, for an example, is a form of death that may be used in poetry and is usually portrayed in a negative fashion. Surprisingly, some poems that involve death have a positive outcome. There are views found in poetry relating to suicide as a form of death that are both positive and negative. Suicide as a negative perspective is a common form of death displayed in poetry. A very good example of death brought upon by suicide is “Richard Cory” by Edwin Arlington Robinson. In the passage, “And he was rich-yes, richer than a king,” Robinson describes the wealth and riches in which he lived. Richard seemed to be a person without problems. Later at the end of the poem in line fifteen the speaker says, “And Richard Cory, one calm summer night, went home and put a bullet through his head.” In one’s opinion, it may appear that money, wealth, and power is not everything. Perhaps Richard Cory was miserable because of the way people gazed at him which describes his suicide. Theoretically, the reader has to try to interpret the poem because of the lack of evidence explaining the reason of Cory’s suicide. This poem is an example of death in a negative perspective. Another poem that explains suicide as a form of death, but in a somewhat positive fashion, is “Résumé” by Dorothy Parker. In the passage, “Nooses give; /Gas smells awful; /You might as well live,” Parker describes that no matter how bad life may be, attempting to kill yourself is much worse. The first impression of this poem may seem negative, but in fact, it is positive because of the way it portrays the pain involved with suicide. Suicide does not guarantee a quick painless exit from an individual’s seemingly gloomy negative view of his or her world. Imagine as you view your life as a thumbs down experience at every turn, and your only way out is to end it all. You decide to hang yourself, but the “Nooses give” or you decide to slit your wrist, but you do not quite cut deep enough. All the pain you feel up to the point of wanting to commit the hideous act of suicide surely cannot compare to the physical anguish of a suicide attempt that just does not go as planned.