Do people think of death as a person? Although this seems like a strange a question, many poems personify death. “Because I could not stop for Death,” by Emily Dickinson, “Death, be not proud,” by John Donne, are two examples of this. “I heard a fly buzz – when I died,” also by Dickinson, is an example of a poem that does not personify death. Although some people think of death as a one sided-topic, these poems explore the multiple sides of Death. For example, in one poem the author thinks of Death as a weakling, and in another, the author thinks of Death as a chivalrous gentleman. Clearly, Death has numerous ‘faces’ in “Because I could not stop for Death,” “Death, be not proud,” and “I heard a fly buzz – when I died.”
The first of these …show more content…
Unlike the other two poems, “I heard a Fly buzz – when I died,” also by Emily Dickinson, does not personify Death. The poem at first seems eccentric, but it has a clear message. It starts with the author noticing a fly buzzing around the room as she lies on her bed dying. The fly does not bother her, and despite the small pest, the room still has an unnatural stillness to it. Her family and friends have already gathered around her and have already signed all of her possessions away. Then, out of the blue, the fly unexpectedly comes back, annoying Dickinson until she dies. Although Dickinson does not mention Death explicitly in this poem, he obviously plays a large role. He is the “reason” everyone has gathered, and the one holding everyone back from moving …show more content…
Some people see death as a gracious gentleman, like in “Because I could not stop for Death,” while others think of ‘him’ like an enslaved, helpless creature. And still others just think of death as a simple concept that grants a path to heaven. Whether ‘he’ is a kind gentleman, a slave, or just a passage to somewhere else, one thing still holds true: no one should fear death. God clearly states that we should not fear death, but we should fear Hell. Matthew 10:28, says “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Obviously, death is not the final word and ‘he’ only creates an opportunity for humans to go to a better
The first of these …show more content…
Unlike the other two poems, “I heard a Fly buzz – when I died,” also by Emily Dickinson, does not personify Death. The poem at first seems eccentric, but it has a clear message. It starts with the author noticing a fly buzzing around the room as she lies on her bed dying. The fly does not bother her, and despite the small pest, the room still has an unnatural stillness to it. Her family and friends have already gathered around her and have already signed all of her possessions away. Then, out of the blue, the fly unexpectedly comes back, annoying Dickinson until she dies. Although Dickinson does not mention Death explicitly in this poem, he obviously plays a large role. He is the “reason” everyone has gathered, and the one holding everyone back from moving …show more content…
Some people see death as a gracious gentleman, like in “Because I could not stop for Death,” while others think of ‘him’ like an enslaved, helpless creature. And still others just think of death as a simple concept that grants a path to heaven. Whether ‘he’ is a kind gentleman, a slave, or just a passage to somewhere else, one thing still holds true: no one should fear death. God clearly states that we should not fear death, but we should fear Hell. Matthew 10:28, says “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Obviously, death is not the final word and ‘he’ only creates an opportunity for humans to go to a better