Death is something that people see and hear a lot about, it’s a natural part of life. Some people fear it, however death actually inspires some people to create, create music, poetry or art. Such as “Thanatopsis” by William Cullen Bryant, “Don’t Fear The Reaper” by Blue Oyster Cult and “Dust In The Wind” by Kansas. Each of these discuss death, but they are very different from each other. Two of them glorify the concept death while the other has a pessimistic and realistic view on it.
“Thanatopsis” was written in 1817, in the heart of the romantic period. Bryant does something different with this poem, he switches between himself and nature being the speaker. Bryant starts off this poem by discussing how depressing death is and how it's agonizing …show more content…
The meaning behind this song is to not fear the reaper, or death. The song itself is written from the perspective of death, death talks about how it should not be feared and it even tells you “Baby take my hand, we’ll be able to fly”(Cult). Death then goes on to explain that along with Romeo and Juliet’s death 40,000 people every day die just like they did. Now fitting in with the Romeo and Juliet theme death tells the listener that a woman lost her husband or lover “and it was clear she couldn’t go on”(Cult). So then Death appeared and told her not to be afraid and take his hand, which she did causing her death accordingly. The song then states that the woman had no fear as she ran to him and as promised she flew away with him. The only logical assumption is that the woman was so distraught from the death of her lover that she killed herself to be with him. The woman, much like Juliet did with Romeo had that faith that she would be with him in the afterlife. So this song deals heavily with the thought of an afterlife and the message of this song is that when you die, you’ll be with loved ones again so you should not fear death. The last poem does not glorify death, it has a real outlook on …show more content…
The other poems had a positive message by telling you that once you die you’ll lay among kings and you’ll see your family in the afterlife. Well this poem basically tells you that “Everything is dust in the wind” (Kansas). The song is telling you that life goes by really fast and before you know it you’re dead. There is no talk about the afterlife or anything positive. The only thing this song states is that once you die, that’s it, there’s nothing more for you. The song also states that nothing lasts forever aside from the Earth and sky and no matter how much money you have it cannot buy you another minute for your
“Thanatopsis” was written in 1817, in the heart of the romantic period. Bryant does something different with this poem, he switches between himself and nature being the speaker. Bryant starts off this poem by discussing how depressing death is and how it's agonizing …show more content…
The meaning behind this song is to not fear the reaper, or death. The song itself is written from the perspective of death, death talks about how it should not be feared and it even tells you “Baby take my hand, we’ll be able to fly”(Cult). Death then goes on to explain that along with Romeo and Juliet’s death 40,000 people every day die just like they did. Now fitting in with the Romeo and Juliet theme death tells the listener that a woman lost her husband or lover “and it was clear she couldn’t go on”(Cult). So then Death appeared and told her not to be afraid and take his hand, which she did causing her death accordingly. The song then states that the woman had no fear as she ran to him and as promised she flew away with him. The only logical assumption is that the woman was so distraught from the death of her lover that she killed herself to be with him. The woman, much like Juliet did with Romeo had that faith that she would be with him in the afterlife. So this song deals heavily with the thought of an afterlife and the message of this song is that when you die, you’ll be with loved ones again so you should not fear death. The last poem does not glorify death, it has a real outlook on …show more content…
The other poems had a positive message by telling you that once you die you’ll lay among kings and you’ll see your family in the afterlife. Well this poem basically tells you that “Everything is dust in the wind” (Kansas). The song is telling you that life goes by really fast and before you know it you’re dead. There is no talk about the afterlife or anything positive. The only thing this song states is that once you die, that’s it, there’s nothing more for you. The song also states that nothing lasts forever aside from the Earth and sky and no matter how much money you have it cannot buy you another minute for your