Death In Thanatopsis, And Dust In The Wind
Death is part of life and the human condition. Many people have thought about the life cycle and have their own ideas about what it means to live or to die. Examples of this would be the three poems “Thanatopsis” by William Cullen Bryant, “Don’t Fear the Reaper” by The Blue Oyster Cult, and “Dust in the Wind” by Kansas. All of these are about death, but they have different points of view. “Thanatopsis” romanticizes death and is optimistic, “Dust in the Wind” portrays life as short and fleeting, and “Don’t Fear the Reaper” glorifies death.
While the three poems discuss death the poem “Thanatopsis” has the most optimistic view. In the poem Bryant says that there is an afterlife and that “the gay will laugh”, and it implies that we should live
our lives to the fullest. “Dust in the Wind” is different, it portrays life as short and fleeting by using lines like “all we are is dust in the wind”, or “and all your money won’t another minute buy”. “Don’t Fear the Reaper” romanticizes death, it also has lines similar to that of “Dust in the Wind”, “seasons don’t fear the reaper”. Lines that romanticize death in this poem are the lines similar to ”come on baby” and “baby I’m your man”. That’s how these poems differ in their perspective and meanings.
Death is part of life and many have pondered what it means to live or die. Poems like the ones listed above have their own ideas about death and though they may have the same base idea their view of that idea differs greatly. Everyone has their own idea and who’s to say what’s right and wrong. It will stay unanswered for a very long time if not forever.
While the three poems discuss death the poem “Thanatopsis” has the most optimistic view. In the poem Bryant says that there is an afterlife and that “the gay will laugh”, and it implies that we should live
our lives to the fullest. “Dust in the Wind” is different, it portrays life as short and fleeting by using lines like “all we are is dust in the wind”, or “and all your money won’t another minute buy”. “Don’t Fear the Reaper” romanticizes death, it also has lines similar to that of “Dust in the Wind”, “seasons don’t fear the reaper”. Lines that romanticize death in this poem are the lines similar to ”come on baby” and “baby I’m your man”. That’s how these poems differ in their perspective and meanings.
Death is part of life and many have pondered what it means to live or die. Poems like the ones listed above have their own ideas about death and though they may have the same base idea their view of that idea differs greatly. Everyone has their own idea and who’s to say what’s right and wrong. It will stay unanswered for a very long time if not forever.