Death Essay, Research Paper
Amir Alavi
2/19/00
Essay 2
Eng. 100 Boster
Death has always been a grim subject for most people only because it hasn?t been dealt with. For some, death is a very natural and beautiful thing. A time to come together and celebrate the life lived by the newly deceased. After reading Orwell?s ?A Hanging,? Thomas? ?On Natural Death,? and Robinson?s ?Richard Corey,? several similarities stand out. Death is an inevitable act so it is a waste of effort to stress about it. Death also comes when you least expect it, so sudden it makes those around you heart stop momentarily. The most soothing fact, death is perhaps painless, a pleasure if you will. On the other hand, the tones of the three stories are all very different, and its impact is felt differently. Also, in ?Richard Corey? and ?A Hanging,? the deaths were premature, whereas in ?Natural Death,? it is precisely that, a natural death. Death can be presented in many manors.
Are you afraid of death? Being afraid of death is natural, but there is no need to do so. Death is going to get you one way or another; there is no escape. For example in Thomas? essay ?On Natural Death? it states, ?I gave up throwing sticks at the cat to make him drop the mouse . . . mouse went ahead and died anyway?(193, bk.3). No matter how many times the boy tried to stop the cat from eating the mouse, the mouse died anyway, showing that is was indeed his time to go.
Another example of the inescapability of death was shown in Orwell?s ?A Hanging.? Here, a dog tried to interrupt the hanging by being a nuisance. It lasted for a time until the dog was caught; the hanging went on with normal procedures. In both cases some living force tried to help the victim but failed miserably because they just created more time for the event to get more intense. When the cat drops the mouse out of its mouth before completing the job, the mouse must lay in pain until it passes, if it does feel pain. For the hooded victim, standing on stage crying out to his god, not knowing which will be his last cry, is a completely new form of torture. In both cases death was inevitable although prolonged for a short while.
What are some signs to look for when death is near? Older people know there time is near, but sometimes it is out of no where that the person moves on. In Robinson?s poem ?Richard Corey,? Richard Corey is a very respectable, upper class, educated man with half his life still ahead of him. Yet something was still missing for him because with everything going for him, he committed suicide well ahead of his time. He must have felt very alone and felt he can?t connect with anyone. We have all felt that way, but probably not for as long as he had.
Also, the tree in Thomas? ?Natural Death? looked fine one week, in the next it was completely naked. Not a single lament could have guessed what was going to happen to that tree. Disease can sometimes be the cause of death, whether physically or mentally. Not to mention in Orwells? ?A Hanging,? what seemed like an eternity to the hangee while hooded on stage calling to his god, the suddenness of the decision of the hanger at which instant the hooded man disappeared was a split moment in time that was unknown. It is a good thing that most do not know when their time is. Imagine if it one knew when his time was, logically he would try to avoid it, would he succeed? Thirty seconds prior, ones heart must be pounding like Tyson?s punches almost causing a heart attack, causing you to faint, completely missing your chance for avoidance. Perhaps suddenness is the way to go.
Usually when death enters my mind, the thought of pain is not too far behind. On the other hand, Montaigne in Thomas? essay depicts death as a sensational event. Feeling as though having ?that sweet feeling that people have who have let themselves slide into sleep?(194, bk.9). It sounds celestial and pleasant; the passing on of your soul to where ever it is that is goes. Likewise, in ?A Hanging? no pain was evident because of immediate death. Imagine being the doctor when death was not complete? Having to go under and ?pull the prissoners leg?s to ensure decease?(87, bk.1). In that situation does the victim feel pain? What could be going through his mind at that point? The pain is only felt when the natural death does not take place. It is a result of the body?s inability to prepare for the moment to release the endorphins to create a new euphoria of some type.
The variation in the tones of the three pieces differs but still has an equal and effective impact. In Thomas? essay it has a very settling, almost calming tone. For example, when Thomas describes the reaction of a mouse during death, ?if a mouse could shrug, he?d shrug?(194, Bk.6). Also the tree surgeons leaving in their red truck ?everyone singing?(193, bk.3) brings a cheery feeling. On the other hand Orwells? ?A Hanging? has a very careless, emotionless, what is the big deal type of attitude. It is merely the morning hanging to those people in India. Afterwards they go to work, eat breakfast, or go out and play as it nothing had changed. A brief description of the picture afterwards, ?it seemed quite a homely, jolly scene, after the hanging . . . one felt an impulse to sing, to break into a run, to snigger?(86, bk. 17). After the hanging the superintendent told his boys ?you?d better all come out and have a drink . . . I?ve got a bottle . . . in the car? (87, bk.20). All this from a mere one hundred yards away from the hung body.
Looking at the tone of Robinson?s ?Richard Corey? one gets the sense of admiration and motivation. The way Richard Corey is described, what everyone wants to be, ?a gentleman from sole to crown?(line 3). Not to mention he had almost everything, ?he was rich ? yes, richer than a king?(line 9). He was who we all dream to be eventually, but all those wishes and desires are lost with the last line, ?Went home and put a bullet through his head?(line 16). The contrast of Richard Corey?s appearance and the devastating hit of the last line creates a lasting impression. As you can see the road each author takes is different with each being a ride of its own.
Another comparison between ?Richard Corey? and ?A Hanging? is that both deaths were premature. In the two stories, death is taken out of the hands of nature and into the hands of humans. Richard Corey took his own life well ahead of his time for what ever the reason was. The gentleman hung definitely could have gone on, ?I saw the mystery . . . of cutting a life short when it is in full tide?(84, bk.8). It is wrong to deny a man his right to live, if it is not, it certainly is not up to us to decide.
Opposite to ?Richard Corey? and ?A Hanging,? ?Natural Death? portrays death naturally. When the time is right it will come to you. The elm tree died of its own natural causes, such as disease. The mouse had the unfortunate misfortune of running into a cat. In either scenario, no human interference occurred. It is impossible to hide from death, but it is easy to find it.
Evidently, these three authors contained similar tactics in their writings. Both Orwell and Thomas depicted that death cannot be stopped. Both also point out the painless factor. All three authors, including Robinson, had varying tones relayed through their writings. All three also made evident the suddenness of death. With out a doubt death is a subject that can be illustrated and presented in different and effective manors.
Другие работы по теме:
Capital Punishment Essay Research Paper Capital PunishmentMy
Capital Punishment Essay, Research Paper Capital Punishment My opinion on capital punishment is very shaky because of the unstable facts and controversy surrounding this topic. I personally, am caught somewhere in the middle of deciding on being for or against the death penalty. I am for the death penalty for several reasons: I think that we need to get the hardened criminals off the streets and out of our court and jail systems.
The Death Penalty 11 Essay Research Paper
The Penalty of Death In this essay, H.L. Mencken has two arguments that stand out in the beginning of this essay. These arguments are against the penalty of death, although his essay is in a way, for it. The first one is, That hanging a man (or frying him or gassing him) is a dreadful business, degrading to those who have to do it and revolting to those who have to witness it . (Mencken 455).
Sonnet About Death Essay Research Paper Death
Sonnet About Death Essay, Research Paper Death is full of sorrow and surprise Sooner or later it comes at anytime. Even though I do not remember my demise In my hearts I still remember my greatest crime.
Capital Punishment 6 Essay Research Paper CAPITAL
Capital Punishment 6 Essay, Research Paper CAPITAL PUNISHMENTCapital Punishment or Life Imprisonment? I think that capital punishment should be use more often than just life imprisonment. Life imprisonment is just not working. The death penalty does have some cons but it has its share of pros too. Lets start with the pros.
April Morning Essay Essay Research Paper I
April Morning Essay Essay, Research Paper I think that some of the reasoning behind Moses Cooper letting Adam fight in the war was that Adam was no longer a small child like his brother
Capital Punishment Essay Research Paper I am
Capital Punishment Essay, Research Paper I am all for Capital Punishment. I think that if you kill someone you should be given the death penalty. I think that the death of the killer would give family and friends a bit of ease
Near Death Experiences Essay Research Paper It
Near Death Experiences Essay, Research Paper It all begins for us at birth. We are thrust into a world of constant activity from childhood all the way up to adulthood. Life is busy and we tend not to think about the fact of our inevitable death. It doesn?t seem to make any sense that we will no longer exist as we know it.
The Red Death Vs AIDS Essay
, Research Paper The Red Death Vs. Aids If I were to compare “The Masque of the Red Death” to a movie, I would compare it to the HBO special on aids, “And The Band Played On”.Both the story and the movie dealt with a disease which in their appropriate times were (and is ) considered to be an “evil” disease.
The Lottery Essay Research Paper At the
The Lottery Essay, Research Paper At the end of “The Lottery,” by Shirley Jackson, Tessie Hutchinson said, “It isn’t fair.” Tessie was correct; the lottery wasn’t fair. Death wasn’t fair, especially if you were the sacrificial lamb for the sake of tradition.”Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon,” took many innocent lives each year since the first settlers.
Hamlet Essay Research Paper Act IV Scene
Hamlet Essay, Research Paper Act IV, Scene vii: Claudius convinces Laertes that he is innocent in Laertes’ father’s death and that Hamlet is to blame. A messenger enters with Hamlet’s letter and Claudius is amazed to find that
Death Essay Research Paper Why must there
Death Essay, Research Paper Why must there be death? Death is sad. So why must we bare sadness? Because nobody can stop death. Why do people die? Why must our loved ones die?
April Morning Essay Research Paper April MorningI
April Morning Essay, Research Paper April Morning I think that some of the reasoning behind Moses Cooper letting Adam fight in the war was that Adam was no longer a small child like his brother Levi.
Death Essay Research Paper DeathDeath is the
Death Essay, Research Paper Death Death is the thing most people fear the most. I myself however do not, death can mean a lot of things. To me death is a restraint on life, a barrier
A Friendly Enemy Essay Research Paper A
A Friendly Enemy Essay, Research Paper A Friendly Enemy “Death is my wish for myself, my enemies, my children” (Euripedes translated by Robinson Jeffers, Medea 11). Medea is hungry for death. She wants to taste it on her lips and wishes others to do the same. The value which Medea gives death is to use it as a weapon against her enemies.
Gilgamesh Essay Research Paper Gilgamesh Essay over
Gilgamesh Essay, Research Paper Gilgamesh Essay over The Epic of Gilgamesh The main character in the book The Epic of Gilgamesh is Gilgamesh himself. Throughout the book, many things cause Gilgamesh to change. First, the quest for immortality after the death of Enkidu shows that Gilgamesh has changed. Gilgamesh has gone from arrogant to scared.
John Donne Essay Research Paper Although the
John Donne Essay, Research Paper Although the main focus of many of his poems is death, Donne’s ego seems to steal the spotlight. In Holy Sonnet 10, he manages to defend humankind against death, possibly because he feels he cannot be defeated by God. As with most themes in his work, however, he often changes his opinion, leaving a confused reader to attempt to find his real belief about death.
Death Penalty Essay Research Paper Is the
Death Penalty Essay, Research Paper Is the Death Penalty Right or Wrong? Should we be able to execute people that have been convicted of murder or should we give them a chance to break out of jail and maybe kill other people. Well the Death Penalty has been around for a while ever since the Old West use to hang people for punishment.
Mom Essay Research Paper Death of an
Mom Essay, Research Paper Death of an Innocent I went to a party mom, I remembered what you said. You told me not to drink, Mom, so I drank soda instead. I really felt proud inside, Mom, the way you said I would.
Euthanasia Essay Research Paper EuthanasiaEuthanasia is just
Euthanasia Essay, Research Paper Euthanasia Euthanasia is just another word for ?mercy killing? as some people put it but it also means good death. I look at it as more of a good death if it is performed with the right procedures and if a person has a legitimate reason to be put to death but many people would not agree with me that it should be legal.
Hamlet And Ophelia Essay Research Paper An
Hamlet And Ophelia Essay, Research Paper An example of foreshadowing is when Hamlet?s father came to him as a ghost to inform him of his murder, this caused a rage within Hamlet that foreshadows his
Bubonic Plague Essay Research Paper THE SPREAD
Bubonic Plague Essay, Research Paper THE SPREAD OF THE BUBONIC PLAGUE Many have been affected by the plague that has traveled from China – Europe. The plague was said to be carried by rats and fleas, say reasearchers. This plague is known in other places as The Black Death.
Black Death Essay Research Paper Black Death
Black Death Essay, Research Paper Black Death This month there was a big disaster. It wasn t a war or an earthquakes. It was the 14th century plague that swept Europe called the Black Death. It first came from Central Asia then kept moving to Europe. It can kill many people in just months. The source of what gives off this disease is unknown.
Silas Deane Essay Research Paper Mysterious Death
Silas Deane Essay, Research Paper Mysterious Death of Silas Deane The authors of “The Strange Death of Silas Deane: The Problem of Selecting Evidence.”, James West Davidson and Mark Hamilton Lytle explore the skill of
Death Penalty Essay Research Paper Chad HeldtSociologyPeriod
Death Penalty Essay, Research Paper Chad Heldt Sociology Period 1 4/28/98 The Death Penalty Should It Be Allowed Or Not? In my paper I plan to give my opinion and my position on the death penalty. I believe the death penalty should be for hardened criminals like the Charlie Mansons of the world and people like that.
Annie Essay Research Paper In Edger Allen
Annie Essay, Research Paper In Edger Allen Poe?s poem ?For Annie? it illustrates Poe?s life as being an illness, which has finally come to an end. For example, on lines 29 & 30 Poe writes, ?With a fever called ?Living? That burned in my brain?. It?s odd how Poe reverses the ways of death and life. He feels that life is an illness and that death is a cure for the illness called life.
Capital Pun Essay Research Paper These people
Capital Pun Essay, Research Paper These people who are on death row are criminals, there’s no disputing that. They have been tried and convicted. We are talking about how they should be punished. It is a far worse punishment to have no freedom and all the time in the world to think about why you lost it. Are we not murderers ourselves if we condone this? Benjamin Franklin once wisely said, “Doing an injury puts you below your enemy; revenging one makes you but even with him; forgiving one sets you below him.” We are no better than the criminal as a society by putting them to death.
Antigone Essay Research Paper Joe PrestonEnglish 10
Antigone Essay, Research Paper Joe Preston English 10 period 1 Antigone Essay Mrs. Bleeke 18 November 1999 Antigone Essay Antigone is an admirable character in some aspects through out the play. Her pride
Antigone Essay Research Paper Antigone and The
Antigone Essay, Research Paper Antigone and The Mother Death surrounds us all. It is a common reminder of the life we have around us. Death is seen in people, nature, and animal’s everyday. It brings us sadness and pain. It is something that is not easily dealt with and sometimes may seem unjust. It helps us become better people by accepting death and learning from it.
Poem Essay Research Paper Four Years Ago
Poem Essay, Research Paper Four Years Ago Today Today is the anniversary Of my brothers death Four years ago today God layed him down for eternal rest Four years ago today
Euthanasia Essay Research Paper EUTHANASIAEuthanasiaRenaldo La FoucadeEducation
Euthanasia Essay, Research Paper EUTHANASIA Euthanasia Renaldo La Foucade Education of America University Euthanasia Euthanasia Euthanasia is a topic that provokes as much controversy as capital punishment, primarily because it is irreversible. The question of euthanasia being right or wrong is one that most would prefer left alone.