Cold, dark and quiet. Nearly dead with a gloomy figure approaching. This might have been a recounting of a someone’s worst nightmare, but it also explains Death. No, not the true act of dying, the personification. Whether it is named Death, the Grim Reaper or The Angel of Death, this fictional beast has tormented thoughts for ages. Not only is he a source of anxiety, the Grim Reaper is a complex myth practiced all over the world that has a large influence on modern-day society and pop-culture. By exploring its origins and spiritual beliefs, its symbolism and finally its impact on in the world today, it will be understood how this monstrous myth came to be.
To start off, the origins of this beast come from many different places. With so many …show more content…
According to Wikipedia’s article Death (Personification), although the Grim Reaper is usually perceived as a man, in some different cultures and religions the creature of death is a woman. There is also a wide spread debate on what Death really does. Before the popular title The Grim Reaper was was introduced in 1847, many believed this symbolism if Death was all by touch. With Black Death came the ‘Death Touch’ meaning he creates mortality. If you are touched by this being you will die, and that is his plan. A more modern belief, Death is not a cold hearted killer, but more of an escort. It is now believed that death is actually a guide to afterlife (Wikimedia foundation). In Benjamin Martinez’s article Creation of the Grim Reaper, it is told that after you die, he will come and collect you as you enter into a new dimension. In here he will guide you to your final resting place, popularly known as either Heaven or Hell (Martinez). In a more indirect fashion, others loosely believe that Death can be bribed, tricked or fooled, also known as cheating death. Even if there is a scary mythological beast waiting for us on the other side, death is inevitable and everyone will someday face …show more content…
Whether it is being displayed in movies, television, adds or books Death is all around us. Most popularly, Death has been featured as a character in Family Guy, being perceived on the Ludacris show as laid back and cool. During featured episodes demonstrates life lessons and shows how precious life can be. This plays a crucial role not only in the show but in society. With all the frightening and gloomy persona aside, Death now demonstrates how dark and scary the act of dyeing really is, helping us want to cherish life before death runs its course and he does his job. Another place the Grim Reaper is commonly found is literature, fictional stories he is hooked into. For example, The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak is a novel where Death is the narrator. Having it as the narrator is quite fitting as the book is based on the darkest time in human history: Nazi Germany during the holocaust. It being a modern book, it plays more to the belief of death being only a guide, during the story Death does not kill its victims, he rather stands back and observes. Death is also tired and wants vacation but cannot. In the end he states he is "haunted by humans” (Zusak). In modern day society Death still exists, it just changed and shaped into different ways to help the impact of whatever is being produced, life lessons, frightening stories but most importantly helping cherish
To start off, the origins of this beast come from many different places. With so many …show more content…
According to Wikipedia’s article Death (Personification), although the Grim Reaper is usually perceived as a man, in some different cultures and religions the creature of death is a woman. There is also a wide spread debate on what Death really does. Before the popular title The Grim Reaper was was introduced in 1847, many believed this symbolism if Death was all by touch. With Black Death came the ‘Death Touch’ meaning he creates mortality. If you are touched by this being you will die, and that is his plan. A more modern belief, Death is not a cold hearted killer, but more of an escort. It is now believed that death is actually a guide to afterlife (Wikimedia foundation). In Benjamin Martinez’s article Creation of the Grim Reaper, it is told that after you die, he will come and collect you as you enter into a new dimension. In here he will guide you to your final resting place, popularly known as either Heaven or Hell (Martinez). In a more indirect fashion, others loosely believe that Death can be bribed, tricked or fooled, also known as cheating death. Even if there is a scary mythological beast waiting for us on the other side, death is inevitable and everyone will someday face …show more content…
Whether it is being displayed in movies, television, adds or books Death is all around us. Most popularly, Death has been featured as a character in Family Guy, being perceived on the Ludacris show as laid back and cool. During featured episodes demonstrates life lessons and shows how precious life can be. This plays a crucial role not only in the show but in society. With all the frightening and gloomy persona aside, Death now demonstrates how dark and scary the act of dyeing really is, helping us want to cherish life before death runs its course and he does his job. Another place the Grim Reaper is commonly found is literature, fictional stories he is hooked into. For example, The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak is a novel where Death is the narrator. Having it as the narrator is quite fitting as the book is based on the darkest time in human history: Nazi Germany during the holocaust. It being a modern book, it plays more to the belief of death being only a guide, during the story Death does not kill its victims, he rather stands back and observes. Death is also tired and wants vacation but cannot. In the end he states he is "haunted by humans” (Zusak). In modern day society Death still exists, it just changed and shaped into different ways to help the impact of whatever is being produced, life lessons, frightening stories but most importantly helping cherish