Death has fascinated human beings since the beginning of recorded history, but has also caused them great fear for the unknown, and sadness, as they believe the time they have on earth is not enough. The fear humans have of death can lure them into boundless depression, but the thought of an afterlife gives hope. I have noticed these themes of death in the works “Thanatopsis” written by William Cullen Bryant and “Annabel Lee” written by Edgar Allan Poe. Both works of literature have references to death not being the end of life, and that one will live on in one way or another, whether through reincarnation or through a loved one. Nature or the Earth is to be believed as a beautiful eternal resting place, and death can be upsetting, but it shouldn’t …show more content…
In Bryant`s work, he says, “Of the last bitter hour come like a blight / Over thy spirit, and sad images.” He is eluding to how death comes like an infectious disease and ruins what’s around and leaves sad people in its wake. Those two lines demonstrate what most people feel when a loved one dies. Even though one could have warning signs and know that eventually one will die, it doesn’t ease the pain or agony of the loss it causes. In stanza three of Poe`s poem, one may assume that he has gone mad. It seems as if his mind is unraveling and he has gone completely nuts due to the loss of his wife. Poe says, “The angels, not half so happy in heaven, / Went envying her and me-/ Yes! - that was the reason (as all men know, / in this kingdom by the sea)/ That the wind came out of the cloud by night, / Chilling and killing my ANNABEL LEE.” Poe puts the blame of his wife dying on jealous angels from heaven. He states the angels weren’t happy with the love the two shared and that’s why they sent a wind out to kill his Annabel Lee. To some, he may seem insane, but in actuality, he is just a man who lost someone he loved and is trying to come to terms with the