When you had a choice between a slow, prolonging and a quick, instantaneous death, which option would you choose? When only presented with these two options, one would probably pick the latter choice - after all humans are not biologically designed to withstand prolonged pain and suffering. Hence it is why assisted death has been one of the most important yet controversial topics hotly debated over the centuries. The term should not be confused with Euthanasia (also known as “mercy killing”), which is a practice of ending a life painlessly, assisted by a third party. For example, if a physician (a third person) assists the death of a patient by giving a fatal dose of medication or injection etc, then euthanasia has taken place.
Hamlet ponders what an improvement his life would be without his grief. Although he is not fully willing to meet his death because he feels as though he has duties to fulfil and revenge to seek out, when he questions, “Who would bear the whips and scorns of time” ( III, i, 70). Hamlet logically inquires the pros and cons of suicide and what affects it may have on him and others. He apprehends that he must not let culpable Claudius get away with his father’s murder, consequently allowing his mother to be married to a
Nonetheless, the main plot following is Prince Hamlet’s attempt to avenge his father’s murder. Revenge is easily able to blind one of what their actions may impose, especially during one’s quest for vengeance. As it is illustrated in William Shakespeare’s, Hamlet, the unintentional consequences of Prince Hamlet’s seek for revenge, consequently costs many characters their lives. How one handles the information of one’s father being murdered is different for everyone. A reaction to news like that could consist of almost anything.
In John Donne’s sonnet “Death, Be Not Proud” the speaker illustrates the mortality of death and addresses the fear people associate death with. Throughout history death has been an effective method of control, ultimately causing fear among men. Donne uses figurative language, statements of why death should not be proud, and religious beliefs to relinquish this fear. Donne uses many forms of figurative language throughout this sonnet. The beginning of the sonnet states, “Death, be not proud, though some have called thee” (line 1) Death is apostrophized, being directly spoken to as if this entity were a person.
While in the chapel, he says, “My fault is past, But, O, what form of prayer/Can serve my turn? ‘Forgive my foul murder’?/That cannot be, since I am still possess’d/Of those effects for which did the murder” (Act III, Scene III, Lines 52-54). Here, Claudius realizes that repenting for his action may hinder his Kingship. He loses his inclination to do what is right and to follow his Christian beliefs, simply because it may cause him to be less powerful. Therefore, Claudius’ pursuit of power causes him to neglect his morals.
His looks diminish, he becomes compassionate, and he is very afraid of death. He is no longer that carefree ass he was in the beginning. Once he realizes he is not an immortal god, he becomes a little obsessed with his destiny and eternal life. He has made many journeys that have made him older and wiser. By the end of the epic, Gilgamesh has experienced life, love, death, grief, and despair.
Coupled with regret is shame as well. “I am afraid to think what I have done; Look on ’t again I dare not” (2.2.52). Macbeth feels bad and ashamed that he doesn't want to think about what he's done. Committing dreadful crimes brings forth suicidal thoughts. “Better be with the dead, Whom we, to gain our peace, have sent to peace, Than on the torture of the mind to lie In restless ecstasy” (3.2.22).
To Paul, Duval is just like any other man, and in this instance, a man who needs Pauls help. But Paul kills him, and in that moment totally loses his way. In addition, Hardy’s poem isn’t as intense as Remarque’s novel, but nontheless effective in its message. One doesn’t enlist in the war to kill but instead one is “out of work…no other reason why.” He writes that if two enemies were to meet in any other circumstances, then they could have been friends, possibly even shared a drink. In the third stanza, the
The Great Warrior There are many great warriors, but like any great warrior we all have weaknesses. Odysseus was a great warrior but had flaws. Odysseus is very clever. He tricked the giant and poked him in the eye and was able to escape. Another example of his cleverness is when he killed all the people that were threatening his wife to marry him and thought up a way to get rid of them.
That his life has ended and there is no direction he can take. A similarity between the two poems is that they both use imperatives. Evidence of this in ‘Death be not proud’ is ‘be not proud’. Donne is commanding Death not to be proud and is saying that Death should not be proud of himself because Death is powerless and irrelevant. However, although they both use imperatives, they still present death completely differently.