To Live or Not to Live: The True Message of William Cullen Bryant’s “Thanatopsis” Life and death are common subjects seen throughout different written forms for as long as mankind has been around. This statement is definitely true for the poem “Thanatopsis” by William Cullen Bryant. There is no denying that the general themes are about discussing living as well as dying. However, what is ambiguous is which topic Bryant is trying to advocate for.
Although the poem title itself references Thantos, the Greek god of death, I would submit that the real heart of the poem is actually discussing life and how to live. Within the poem itself, Bryant uses vivid visual imagery and enjambment, but another facet to completely understand the driving point …show more content…
Since he was a man that placed much importance on nature as a spiritual crutch rather than a deity, it would only make sense that he would incorporate nature into his poetry. In lines 8-13, thoughts of dying are a source of anxiety and can “Make thee to shudder…” (“Thanatopsis” 13). However, we are instructed not to dwell on such thoughts, but rather to step out into nature. Nature is sprawling with life that continues to go on despite what it happening in the microcosm of a person’s life. Bryant subsequently paints a picture of what surrounds us every day and from every angle, whether it be water flowing in a forest or the sun taking its place above its terrestrial domain. Nature will continue to exist and go through its eternal, natural processes in spite of humanity’s temporary existence. Therefore, by pairing a system that never dies with a mortal existence, Bryant is essentially trying to advise the reader to live life as nature does. Nature does not worry itself with when it will end, it just goes about doing what it does, and basically lives life. He is trying to get the reader to imagine his or herself in the same shoes as nature and uses visual imagery to do …show more content…
After all, he references Earth as “…the great tomb of man.” (“Thanatopsis” 45). He also describes all the dead in the ground that have been there “…since first/The flight of years began…” and how we will all join them one day too (“Thanatopsis” 55-56). It is true that there is a large mention of death, but it should only be regarded as one of the two rampant themes. The real focus is to depict that yes, death is inevitable, but while we as humans are alive, then we should make living our priority. So in the end, when we do die, we will “…go not, like the quarry-slave at night,” having the thought of death as our master that controls our every action (“Thanatopsis” 77). Instead, we will die peacefully having known we lived fully, doing everything desired. Death will affect us all so there is no reason for anyone to dismiss the message that Bryant is trying to convey. No one will be spared but we should remember that death, just like in the poem, is not the main focus, life
Although the poem title itself references Thantos, the Greek god of death, I would submit that the real heart of the poem is actually discussing life and how to live. Within the poem itself, Bryant uses vivid visual imagery and enjambment, but another facet to completely understand the driving point …show more content…
Since he was a man that placed much importance on nature as a spiritual crutch rather than a deity, it would only make sense that he would incorporate nature into his poetry. In lines 8-13, thoughts of dying are a source of anxiety and can “Make thee to shudder…” (“Thanatopsis” 13). However, we are instructed not to dwell on such thoughts, but rather to step out into nature. Nature is sprawling with life that continues to go on despite what it happening in the microcosm of a person’s life. Bryant subsequently paints a picture of what surrounds us every day and from every angle, whether it be water flowing in a forest or the sun taking its place above its terrestrial domain. Nature will continue to exist and go through its eternal, natural processes in spite of humanity’s temporary existence. Therefore, by pairing a system that never dies with a mortal existence, Bryant is essentially trying to advise the reader to live life as nature does. Nature does not worry itself with when it will end, it just goes about doing what it does, and basically lives life. He is trying to get the reader to imagine his or herself in the same shoes as nature and uses visual imagery to do …show more content…
After all, he references Earth as “…the great tomb of man.” (“Thanatopsis” 45). He also describes all the dead in the ground that have been there “…since first/The flight of years began…” and how we will all join them one day too (“Thanatopsis” 55-56). It is true that there is a large mention of death, but it should only be regarded as one of the two rampant themes. The real focus is to depict that yes, death is inevitable, but while we as humans are alive, then we should make living our priority. So in the end, when we do die, we will “…go not, like the quarry-slave at night,” having the thought of death as our master that controls our every action (“Thanatopsis” 77). Instead, we will die peacefully having known we lived fully, doing everything desired. Death will affect us all so there is no reason for anyone to dismiss the message that Bryant is trying to convey. No one will be spared but we should remember that death, just like in the poem, is not the main focus, life