Russel J.Larsen states in this epitaph that he would like to spend eternity (or at least, his body to spend eternity) with what he loves the most: horses and beautiful women. His idea of "resting in peace" is to be made into a riding saddle, where his remains will be between women and horses. This poem reflects a man who knew what his pleasures were, and intended to find those pleasures even after his demise. His approach comparitively unusual in light of our very spiritualized, sentimental modern society, because he either seriously valued horses and women to the extent that he wanted to be with them forever (an inordinately materialistic plan for a time when he would not know pleasure) or he wanted to give those who loved and survived him a chance to remember and laugh at who he was. (Epitaphs are notoriously rather cynical and humorous, so it makes sense that readers would not take his poem seriously).
In this poem, Emily Dickinson discusses her purpose for dying: beauty. After dying and being laid in her tomb, she tells that to the person in the adjoining tomb. He tells her that they are, in a sense, family because he died for truth, which is the same as beauty. After talking in their respective tombs, moss grew over their lips and names, concealing their identites forever. This sonnet-like peom portrays death as a gradual experience; the two characters were laid to rest, then they gradually lost the ability to communicate and lost who they were. This is unusual because society generally views death to be a sudden, painful ending (at least, physically) and I think this greatly contributes to the fear surrounding dying.
Dickinson discusses her use of time in life in light of her ever-approaching demise. She says that she has neither the time to hate nor love, but she chooses love anyway because the little bit of it that she accomplishes it is enough for her. Because hate is self-destructive, draining and endless, it is wasteful use of time that death will hinder; We do not last forever, so why chose hate? This idea contradicts the actions of many in society, who waste their time warring and cruelly rebuking others.
This poem is a narration of the embalming process from the point of view of the embalmer; he advises forgoing emotional attachment to the corpse, working under harsh lights, manipulating the skin's texture to be puddy, having plenty of tools on hand, referring to the chemicals as "ointments", and excitedly awaiting the time to begin the art of embalming. This poem perfectly portrays the the attitudes of embalmers who see it as an art and not just a surgical procedure. They take care in every aesthetic detail, feel that they are doing their customers a great service, and make any change (great or small) to restore the body to a condition appropriate for viewing.
While Samual Butler was alive, he was poor and no one he approached was generous enough to help him. He starved to death and then the people who refused to help him ended up paying for a stone monument of his life. The irony of this poem is uncannily similar to that of this culture, where people spend copious amounts of money on commemorating the dead instead of using that money for those who are alive, or for keeping the deceased alive for a longer time. Death brings out sympathy or guilt in people, and this is evident via the monument that Butler's forsakers bought. Perhaps if they had given him dinner instead, his monument would have been happier.
Shakespeare describes his breath as flying away, his life stolen by a fair cruel maid. He instructs the reader to prepare a white shroud, place him in a black coffin and bury him where his friends cannot find his corpse. He has a uniquely direct approach to death because he says that no one can share his death; he must die and no one can do it for him. Instead of saying "go away" to death, he says "come away". He does not wish it away for a long time or forever, but wishes to disappear with it so that his friends do not mourn over him spend time grieving with flowers or tears or "sighs".
Slaughter expresses that Death is always in the back of his mind, and its impending fate cannot be erased by wishes or good deeds. Death is constantly watching and waiting for the time to take Slaughter. This poem indicates that immortality is an impossibility and that accepting that death is coming regardless of how one lives is necessary. This poet strikes me as rather paranoid, which makes me wonder if perhaps many more people in society would be paranoid if they accepted their inevitable death.
Slaughter sees death as a new journey in which he can observe his wife's beauty and love her and hear her musical voice, because he will be inside her mind even beyond death. When she cries he will whisper that he is at peace, until she dies and they are truly together in a forever as deep as the sky's blue. This poem contradicts his previous poem because on said that immortality is not possible, whilst this one says that he and his wife will be together forever and that he still has his senses when dead. Perhaps this contradiction reveals the lack of assurance in matters pertaining to death, and the confusion surrounding that topic. Perhaps writing about death was this author's way of trying to figure it out.
Sandburg communicates in this poem that everyone - even those in power - is subject to the hand of death, and no amount of pride, laughter or worldly accomplishments will sway that fact. This poem is useful to readers because it is humbling; no one escapes death, and at one's final moments they are just as good as the next man/women. Therefore, people should not pretend to themselves or to society that they are immortal.
- Chesterton, G.K. "A Ballade of Suicide." poetry-online.org. Poetry Online, 1901. Web. 18 May 2011. <http://www.poetry-online.org/chesterton_ballade_of_suicide.htm>.
Chesterton wonders if he should hang himself in his garden, and at intervals (at the end of each stanza) decides that he has more to do in life and shan't hang himself yet. He wishes to see the Prince of his land die, to try cooking mushrooms in a new way, to read the works of Juvenal, to discover new aspects of nature, see Rationalists turn rational, and to learn about people. His daily little interests and realizations that he has more to do keep him from ending his life. People can learn from his example, not because they should kill themselves out of boredom, but because they should try to discover new experiences and enjoy the world before they die, whether they die in a moment or tomorrow or in 60 years.
- Yeats, William. "Death ." poetry-online.org. Poetry Online, 1865. Web. 18 May 2011. <http://www.poetry-online.org/yeats_death.htm>.
Yeats expresses in this poem that death overtakes both murdered and murderers. Additionally, he describes that humans are the only creatures to obsess over death, imposing their dread and hopes onto an inevitable future event. The human idea of death, even when death is not an effect of murder, is created via dread and hopes. If people relaxed about death and regarded it as a natural and necessary occurence the unusual creation of "death" by humans might change.
Aldrich narrates the death of a woman, perhaps his wife, sister or mother. She lay in bed, suffering and breathing all night. In the morning, she died with the oncoming sunrise. The night in the poem might symbolize the pain and illness of breathing one's last few breaths, and the morning's fresh sunlight could symbolize the peace that comes with an ending to the suffering, even when it also ends the good aspects of one's life. If more people lived by this poem, they would take care of their bodies and experience as much good as possible throughout a long life, then die in peace, knowing that their suffering would end soon.
Chadwick laments the death of his friend and the pain he must endure while rejoicing in peace after pain, the fact the pain is indeed endurable, and peace in the face of his friend. His positive outlook on his friend's death is unusual because many people feel that their lives have ended once a friendship is gone. He believes that the soul is apart from the body, which seems to almost hinder his mourning experience because it is depressing to think of the friend's body lying in the cold and stillness forever.
Dickinson communicates that death is the only thing that is constant in life. Society, governments and seasons can all change over time, but death is guaranteed. This is unusual because some believe that love is constant or that the continual cycle of seasons is constant. However, Dickinson contradicts this idea and basically tells the reader only to trust in death. If everyone trusted only in death, life would have less disapointments, but it would also have less of a point.
Blok expresses in this short sonnet that death shall come eventually, but in the mean time people should listen to prayers instead of being a slave to life, fearing enemies, friends, poverty, strife, or endless pain. Death is one's eternal fate. Many people are obsessed with their desire for immortality, and experience much anxiety regarding pain, finance and relationships. However, according to Blok, nothing is to be feared because the only thing that lasts forever is death, which holds no pain. If more people held this view, they would probably care about staying alive slightly less.
2-3 paragraph analysis of how your favorite of these poems consolidate, challenge, and/or conceptualize dominant social practices around the care of the dead.
Analysis:
My favorite of these poems is "I Had No Time To Hate" by Emily Dickinson, and "Come Away, Come Away, Death" by William Shakespeare. They both have important messages which many people should internalize, but communicate their messages gently because it is from the piont of view of the author, discussing his/her own preferences. The position of the funeral director in the funeral business has grown more emotional and psychological and less solely centered around paperwork and organization. I think death is upsetting to many people because it is associated with regrets; Some are guilty, bitter, or sad because the deceased did not take advantage of oppurtunities to love and experience the people, or because the survivors wish they could have optimally loved the now-dead friend or family member. The growth of emotional help in the job description of funeral directors is an indication that society is full of guilt and regret when it deals with death. If more people followed Dickinson's example of choosing love, instead of unfulling hate, then perhaps death would not be such a guilt-ridden process.
William Shakespeare specifically requested a simple burial with minimal typical extremities such as flowers, a bedazzled coffin, and much weeping. The dominant practices of this society entail going to a funeral director whose goal is consoling the grieved whilst gaining a profit, and having not choice but to trust his advice in matters of caskets, memorial plaques, crypts, vaults, graves, memorial services, flowers, etc. Because people are manipulated to spend much money on funerals out of "respect" (according to the sentimental funeral directors), expensive and elaborate funerals are common.
Because Shakespeare specifically requests simplicity in his funeral, we can infer that elaborateness was traditional in his time and place of living. He approached death with a uniquely accepting and no-nonsence attitude. A sense of closure or various stages of grief seem to have strayed from his mind as he planned his demise, which is unlike that of funeral directors and many grieving individuals. Simplicity is advisable because, contrary to popular belief, it does not lower the degree of respect given the deceased. However, people should still be aware of their emotions after experiencing loss instead of pretending the emotions do not exist.
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